1 When Israel was a child he was dear to me; and I took my son out of Egypt.
2 When I sent for them, then they went away from me; they made offerings to the Baals, burning perfumes to images.
3 But I was guiding Ephraim's footsteps; I took them up in my arms, but they were not conscious that I was ready to make them well.
4 I made them come after me with the cords of a man, with the bands of love; I was to them as one who took the yoke from off their mouths, putting meat before them.
5 He will go back to the land of Egypt and the Assyrian will be his king, because they would not come back to me.
6 And the sword will go through his towns, wasting his children and causing destruction because of their evil designs.
7 My people are given up to sinning against me; though their voice goes up on high, no one will be lifting them up.
8 How may I give you up, O Ephraim? how may I be your saviour, O Israel? how may I make you like Admah? how may I do to you as I did to Zeboim? My heart is turned in me, it is soft with pity.
9 I will not put into effect the heat of my wrath; I will not again send destruction on Ephraim; for I am God and not man, the Holy One among you; I will not put an end to you.
10 They will go after the Lord; his cry will be like that of a lion; his cry will be loud, and the children will come from the west, shaking with fear;
11 Shaking with fear like a bird, they will come out of Egypt, like a dove out of the land of Assyria: and I will give them rest in their houses, says the Lord.
1 א כי נער ישראל ואהבהו וממצרים קראתי לבני
2 ב קראו להם כן הלכו מפניהם--לבעלים יזבחו ולפסלים יקטרון
3 ג ואנכי תרגלתי לאפרים קחם על זרועתיו ולא ידעו כי רפאתים
4 ד בחבלי אדם אמשכם בעבתות אהבה ואהיה להם כמרימי על על לחיהם ואט אליו אוכיל
5 ה לא ישוב אל ארץ מצרים ואשור הוא מלכו כי מאנו לשוב
6 ו וחלה חרב בעריו וכלתה בדיו ואכלה--ממעצותיהם
7 ז ועמי תלואים למשובתי ואל על יקראהו--יחד לא ירומם
8 ח איך אתנך אפרים אמגנך ישראל--איך אתנך כאדמה אשימך כצבאים נהפך עלי לבי יחד נכמרו נחומי
9 ט לא אעשה חרון אפי לא אשוב לשחת אפרים כי אל אנכי ולא איש--בקרבך קדוש ולא אבוא בעיר
10 י אחרי יהוה ילכו כאריה ישאג כי הוא ישאג ויחרדו בנים מים
11 יא יחרדו כצפור ממצרים וכיונה מארץ אשור והושבתים על בתיהם נאם יהוה {ס}