| NET Bible | English Standard Version |
| 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 were called, the more they went away; 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. | 3Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk; I took them up by their arms, but they did not know 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 cords of kindness, with the bands of love, and I became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws, and I bent down to them and fed them. |
| 5They will return to Egypt! Assyria will rule over them because they refuse to repent! | 5They shall not return to the land of Egypt, but Assyria shall be their king, because they have refused to return to me. |
| 6A sword will flash in their cities, it will destroy the bars of their city gates, and will devour them in their fortresses. | 6The sword shall rage against their cities, consume the bars of their gates, and devour them because of their own counsels. |
| 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 away from me, and though they call out to the Most High, he shall not raise them up 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, O Ephraim? How can I hand you over, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender. |
| 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 execute my burning anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim; for I am God and not a man, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come in wrath. |
| 10He will roar like a lion, and they will follow the LORD; when he roars, his children will come trembling from the west. | 10They shall go after the LORD; he will roar like a lion; when he roars, his children shall 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 shall come trembling like birds from Egypt, and like doves from the land of Assyria, and I will return them to 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, and the house of Israel with deceit, but Judah still walks with God and is faithful to the Holy One. |
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