| NET Bible | New International Version |
| 1When Israel was a young man, I loved him like a son, and I summoned my son out of Egypt. | 1"When 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. | 2But the more they were called, the more they went away from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images. |
| 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 by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who 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 cords of human kindness, with ties of love. To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them. |
| 5They will return to Egypt! Assyria will rule over them because they refuse to repent! | 5"Will they not return to Egypt and will not Assyria rule over them because they refuse 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 flash in their cities; it will devour their false prophets and put an end to their plans. |
| 7My people are obsessed with turning away from me; they call to Baal, but he will never exalt them! | 7My people are determined to turn from me. Even though they call me God Most High, I will by no means exalt them. |
| 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! | 8"How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I treat you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboyim? My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused. |
| 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 carry out my fierce anger, nor will I devastate Ephraim again. For I am God, and not a man-- the Holy One among you. I will not come against their cities. |
| 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 come from Egypt, trembling like sparrows, from Assyria, fluttering like doves. I will settle them in their homes," declares the LORD. |
| 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. | 12Ephraim has surrounded me with lies, Israel with deceit. And Judah is unruly against God, even against the faithful Holy One. |
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