1 CUANDO Israel era muchacho, yo lo amé, y de Egipto llamé á mi hijo.

2 Como los llamaban, así ellos se iban de su presencia; á los Baales sacrificaban, y á las esculturas ofrecían sahumerios.

3 Yo con todo eso guiaba en pies al mismo Ephraim, tomándolos de sus brazos; y no conocieron que yo los cuidaba.

4 Con cuerdas humanas los traje, con cuerdas de amor: y fuí para ellos como los que alzan el yugo de sobre sus mejillas, y llegué hacia él la comida.

5 No tornará á tierra de Egipto, antes el mismo Assur será su rey, porque no se quisieron convertir.

6 Y caerá espada sobre sus ciudades, y consumirá sus aldeas; consumirálas á causa de sus consejos.

7 Entre tanto, está mi pueblo adherido á la rebelión contra mí: aunque lo llaman al Altísimo, ninguno absolutamente quiere ensalzar le.

8 ¿Cómo tengo de dejarte, oh Ehpraim? ¿he de entregarte yo, Israel? ¿cómo podré yo hacerte como Adma, ni ponerte como á Zeboim? Mi corazón se revuelve dentro de mí, inflámanse todas mis conmiseraciones.

9 No ejecutaré el furor de mi ira, no volveré para destruir á Ephraim: porque Dios soy, y no hombre; el Santo en medio de ti: y no entraré en la ciudad.

10 En pos de Jehová caminarán: él bramará como león: cual león rugirá él de cierto, y los hijos se moverán azorados del occidente.

11 Como ave se moverán velozmente de Egipto, y de la tierra de Asiria como paloma; y pondrélos en sus casas, dice Jehová.

12 CERCOME Ephraim con mentira, y la casa de Israel con engaño: mas Judá aún domina con Dios, y es fiel con los santos.

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.