1 Early in the morning were they cast off, the king of Israel has been cast off: for Israel is a child, and I loved him, and out of Egypt have I called his children.
2 As I called them, so they departed from my presence: they sacrificed to Baalim, and burnt incense to graven images.
3 Yet I bound the feet of Ephraim, I took him on my arm; but they knew not that I healed them.
4 When men were destroyed, I drew them with the bands of my love: and I will be to them as a man striking another on his cheek: and I will have respect to him, I will prevail with him.
5 Ephraim lived in Egypt; and as for the Assyrian, he was his king, because he would not return.
6 And in his cities he prevailed not with the sword, and he ceased to war with his hands: and they shall eat of the fruit of their own devices:
7 and his people shall cleave fondly to their habitation; but God shall be angry with his precious things, and shall not at all exalt him.
8 How shall I deal with you, Ephraim? how shall I protect you, Israel? what shall I do with you? I will make you as Adama, and as Seboim; my heart is turned at once, my repentance is powerfully excited.
9 I will not act according to the fury of my wrath, I will not abandon Ephraim to be utterly destroyed: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One within you: and I will not enter into the city.
10 I will go after the Lord: he shall utter his voice as a lion: for he shall roar, and the children of the waters shall be amazed.
11 They shall be amazed and fly as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of the Assyrians: and I will restore them to their houses, says the Lord.
12 Ephraim has compassed me with falsehood, and the house of Israel and Juda with ungodliness: but now God knows them, and they shall be called God's holy people.