When Israel was young, I loved him and called out my son from Egypt.

The more the prophets called out to them, the more they walked away, offering sacrifices to the Baals and burning incense to the carved idols.

I taught Ephraim to walk, to embrace them with my arm, but they did not know that I healed them.

I use a compassionate rope (the original text is human) to lead them, and I treat them like a person relaxing the jaws of an ox, placing food in front of them.

They will not return to the land of Egypt, but the Assyrians will be their kings, because they will not return to me.

The sword will come upon their cities, destroying the bars of their gates and devouring them, all because they follow their own schemes.

My people will turn away from me, and although the prophets call them to return to the Lord above, no one will honor the Lord.

How can I abandon you, O Ephraim? How can I abandon you, O Israel? How can I make you like Acmah? How can I make you like Zebiah? My heart has turned, and my love has been greatly aroused.

I will not unleash my fierce anger, nor will I destroy Ephraim: for I am God, not man, but the Holy One among you, and I will not come upon you in anger.

The Lord will roar like a lion, and the people will follow him. As soon as he shouted, they rushed from the west.

They will come swiftly from Egypt like birds, and from the land of Assyria like doves; I will make them dwell in their own houses. This is what the Lord has said.

Ephraim is deceiving me, Israel is deceiving me, but Judah is ruling by God and faithful to the Holy One. Judas hesitated to God and to the honest Holy One.