1 "When Israel was a child, I loved him, and I called my son out of Egypt.
2 But when I called the people of Israel, they went away from me. and burned incense to the idols.
3 It was I who taught Israel to walk, and I took them by the arms, but they did not understand that I had healed them.
4 I led them with cords of human kindness, with ropes of love. I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down and fed them.
5 "The Israelites will become captives again, as they were in Egypt, and Assyria will become their king, because they refuse to turn back to God.
6 War will sweep through their cities and will destroy them and kill them because of their wicked plans.
7 My people have made up their minds to turn away from me. The prophets call them to turn to me, but none of them honors me at all.
8 "Israel, how can I give you up? How can I give you away, Israel? or treat you like Zeboiim. My heart beats for you, and my love for you stirs up my pity.
9 I won't punish you in my anger, and I won't destroy Israel again. I am God and not a human; I am the Holy One, and I am among you. I will not come against you in anger.
10 They will go after the Lord, and he will roar like a lion. When he roars, his children will hurry to him from the west.
11 They will come swiftly like birds from Egypt and like doves from Assyria. I will settle them again in their homes," says the Lord.
12 Israel has surrounded me with lies; the people have made evil plans. And Judah turns against God, the faithful Holy One.