Online Bible

God Yearns over His People

When Israel was a youth I loved him,And ^aout of Egypt I ^bcalled My son.2 The more ¹^athey called them,The more they went from ²them;They kept ^bsacrificing to the BaalsAnd ^cburning incense to idols.3 Yet it is I who taught Ephraim to walk,¹I ^atook them in My arms;But they did not know that I ^bhealed them.4 I ^aled them with cords of a man, with bonds of love,And ^bI became to them as one who lifts the yoke from their jaws;And I bent down and ^cfed them.

5 ¹They will not return to the land of Egypt;But Assyria—he will be ²their kingBecause they ^arefused to return to Me.6 The ^asword will whirl against ¹their cities,And will demolish ²their gate barsAnd ^bconsume them because of their ^ccounsels.7 So My people are bent on ^aturning from Me.Though ¹they call ²them to the One on high,None at all exalts Him.

8 ^aHow can I give you up, O Ephraim?How can I surrender you, O Israel?How can I ¹make you like ^bAdmah?How can I treat you like ^cZeboiim?My heart is turned over within Me,²All My compassions are kindled.9 I will ^anot execute My fierce anger;I will not destroy Ephraim ^bagain.For ^cI am God and not man, the ^dHoly One in your midst,And I will not come in ¹wrath.10 They will ^awalk after the LORD,He will ^broar like a lion;Indeed He will roarAnd His sons will come ^ctrembling from the west.11 They will come trembling like birds from ^aEgyptAnd like ^bdoves from the land of ^cAssyria;And I will ^dsettle them in their houses, declares the LORD.

12 ¹Ephraim surrounds Me with ^aliesAnd the house of Israel with deceit;Judah is also unruly against God,Even against the Holy One who is faithful.

God Yearns over His People

When Israel was a youth I loved him,And ^aout of Egypt I ^bcalled My son.2 The more ¹^athey called them,The more they went away from ²them;They kept ^bsacrificing to the BaalsAnd ^cburning incense to idols.3 Yet it is I who taught Ephraim to walk,¹I ^atook them in My arms;But they did not know that I ^bhealed them.4 I ^apulled them along with cords of a man, with ropes of love,And ^bI became to them as one who lifts the yoke from their jaws;And I bent down and ^cfed them.

5 ¹They will not return to the land of Egypt;But Assyria—he will be ²their kingBecause they ^arefused to return to Me.6 And the ^asword will whirl against ¹their cities,And will destroy ²their oracle priestsAnd ^bconsume them, because of their ^ccounsels.7 So My people are determined to ^aturn from Me.Though ¹they call ²them to the One on high,None at all exalts Him.

8 ^aHow can I give you up, Ephraim?How can I surrender you, Israel?How can I ¹make you like ^bAdmah?How can I treat you like ^cZeboiim?My heart is turned over within Me,²All My compassions are kindled.9 I will ^anot carry out My fierce anger;I will not destroy Ephraim ^bagain.For ^cI am God and not a man, the ^dHoly One in your midst,And I will not come in ¹wrath.10 They will ^awalk after the LORD,He will ^broar like a lion;Indeed He will roar,And His sons will come ^ctrembling from the west.11 They will come trembling like birds from ^aEgypt,And like ^bdoves from the land of ^cAssyria;And I will ^dsettle them in their houses, declares the LORD.

12 ¹Ephraim surrounds Me with ^aliesAnd the house of Israel with deceit;²Judah is still unruly against God,Even against the Holy One who is faithful.

The Beloved Son

When Israel was a youth I loved him,And ^aout of Egypt I ^bcalled My son.2 The more ¹^athey called them,The more they went from ²them;They kept ^bsacrificing to the BaalsAnd ^cburning incense to graven images.3 Yet it is I who taught Ephraim to walk;¹I ^atook them in My arms;But they did not know that I ^bhealed them.4 I ^aled them with cords of a man, with bonds of love,And ^bI became to them as one who lifts the yoke from their jaws;And I bent down and ^cfed them.

5 ¹They will not return to the land of Egypt;But Assyria—he will be ²their kingBecause they ^arefused to return to Me.6 And the ^asword will whirl against ¹their citiesAnd will consume ²their gate barsAnd ^bdevour them because of their ^ccounsels.7 So My people are hung up on ^aturning from Me.Though ¹they call ²them to the One on high,None at all exalts Him.

8 ^aHow can I give you up, O Ephraim?How can I surrender you, O Israel?How can I give you over to be like ^bAdmah?How can I make you like ^cZeboiim?My heart is turned over within Me;¹All My compassions are stirred.9 I will ^anot execute My burning anger;I will not make Ephraim a ruin ^bagain.For ^cI am God and not man, the ^dHoly One in your midst,And I will not come in ¹wrath.10 They will ^awalk after Yahweh;He will ^broar like a lion;Indeed, He will roar,And His sons will come ^ctrembling from the west.11 They will come trembling like birds from ^aEgyptAnd like ^bdoves from the land of ^cAssyria;And I will ^dsettle them in their houses, declares Yahweh.

12 ¹Ephraim surrounds Me with ²^aliesAnd the house of Israel with deceit;And Judah is also unruly against God,Even against the Holy One who is faithful.