1 “When Israel was a child, I loved him,
2 The more I called them, the farther they went away.
3 I was the one who taught the people of Ephraim to walk.
4 I led them with cords of human kindness, with ropes of love.
5 “They will not return to Egypt.
6 War will sweep through their cities,
7 My people are determined to turn away from me.
8 “How can I give you up, Ephraim?
9 I will not act on my burning anger.
10 “My people will follow me when I roar like a lion.
11 They will come trembling like birds from Egypt
12 “Ephraim surrounds me with lies.