| NET Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1When Israel was a young man, I loved him like a son, and I summoned my son out of Egypt. | 1When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son. |
| 2But the more I summoned them, the farther they departed from me. They sacrificed to the Baal idols and burned incense to images. | 2The more they called them, the more they departed from Me. They kept sacrificing to the Baals and burning offerings to idols. |
| 3Yet it was I who led Ephraim, I took them by the arm; but they did not acknowledge that I had healed them. | 3It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them in My arms, but they never knew that I healed them. |
| 4I led them with leather cords, with leather ropes; I lifted the yoke from their neck, and gently fed them. | 4I led them with human cords, with ropes of love. To them I was like one who eases the yoke from their jaws; I bent down to give them food. |
| 5They will return to Egypt! Assyria will rule over them because they refuse to repent! | 5Israel will not return to the land of Egypt and Assyria will be his king, because they refused to repent. |
| 6A sword will flash in their cities, it will destroy the bars of their city gates, and will devour them in their fortresses. | 6A sword will whirl through his cities; it will destroy and devour the bars of his gates, because of their schemes. |
| 7My people are obsessed with turning away from me; they call to Baal, but he will never exalt them! | 7My people are bent on turning from Me. Though they call to Him on high, He will not exalt them at all. |
| 8How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I surrender you, O Israel? How can I treat you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboiim? I have had a change of heart! All my tender compassions are aroused! | 8How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I surrender you, Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? I have had a change of heart; My compassion is stirred! |
| 9I cannot carry out my fierce anger! I cannot totally destroy Ephraim! Because I am God, and not man--the Holy One among you--I will not come in wrath! | 9I will not vent the full fury of My anger; I will not turn back to destroy Ephraim. For I am God and not man, the Holy One among you; I will not come in rage. |
| 10He will roar like a lion, and they will follow the LORD; when he roars, his children will come trembling from the west. | 10They will follow the LORD; He will roar like a lion. When He roars, His children will come trembling from the west. |
| 11They will return in fear and trembling like birds from Egypt, like doves from Assyria, and I will settle them in their homes," declares the LORD. | 11They will be roused like birds from Egypt and like doves from the land of Assyria. Then I will settle them in their homes. This is the LORD's declaration. |
| 12Ephraim has surrounded me with lies; the house of Israel has surrounded me with deceit. But Judah still roams about with God; he remains faithful to the Holy One. | 12 Ephraim surrounds me with lies, the house of Israel, with deceit. Judah still wanders with God and is faithful to the holy ones. |
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