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 smiting another on his cheek : and I will have respect to him, I will prevail with him.
5 Ephraim dwelt 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 thee, Ephraim ? how shall I protect thee, Israel ? what shall I do with thee ? I will make thee 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 thee : 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, saith the Lord.