God Yearns over His People
1 When Israelwasa youth I loved him,
And out of Egypt I called My son.
2 The more they called them,
The more they went from them;
They kept sacrificing to the Baals
And burning incense to idols.
3 Yet it is I who taught Ephraim to walk,
I took them in My arms;
But they did not know that I healed them.
4 I led them with cords of a man, with bonds of love,
And I became to them as one who lifts the yoke from their jaws;
And I bent downandfed them.
5 They will not return to the land of Egypt;
But Assyria-he will be their king
Because they refused to returnto Me.
6 The sword will whirl against their cities,
And will demolish their gate bars
And consumethembecause of their counsels.
7 So My people are bent on turning from Me.
Though they call them tothe Oneon high,
None at all exaltsHim.
8 How can I give you up, O Ephraim?
How can I surrender you, O Israel?
How can I make you like Admah?
How can I treat you like Zeboiim?
My heart is turned over within Me,
All My compassions are kindled.
9 I will not execute My fierce anger;
I will not destroy Ephraim again.
For I am God and not man, the Holy One in your midst,
And I will not come in wrath.
10 They will walk after the Lord,
He will roar like a lion;
Indeed He will roar
AndHissons will come trembling from the west.
11 They will come trembling like birds from Egypt
And like doves from the land of Assyria;
And I will settle them in their houses, declares the Lord.
12 Ephraim surrounds Me with lies
And the house of Israel with deceit;
Judah is also unruly against God,
Even against the Holy One who is faithful.
—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/HOS/11-c479527d105ce492025b3b71d7a0b2c2.mp3?version_id=100—