God Yearns over His People

1
When Israel {was} a 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 down {and} fed them.

 5
They will not return to the land of Egypt;
But Assyria–he will be their king
Because they refused to return {to Me.} 6
The sword will whirl against their cities,
And will demolish their gate bars
And consume {them} because of their counsels. 7
So My people are bent on turning from Me.
Though they call them to {the One} on high,
None at all exalts {Him.}

 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
And {His} sons 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.