No themes applied yet
God’s love for Israel
1‘When Israel was a child, I loved him,
and out of Egypt I called my son.
2But the more they were called,
the more they went away from me.11:2 Septuagint; Hebrew them
They sacrificed to the Baals
and they burned incense to images.
3It was I who taught Ephraim to walk,
taking them by the arms;
but they did not realise
it was I who healed them.
4I led them with cords of human kindness,
with ties of love.
To them I was like one who lifts
a little child to the cheek,
and I bent down to feed them.
5‘Will they not return to Egypt
and will not Assyria rule over them
because they refuse to repent?
6A sword will flash in their cities;
it will devour their false prophets
and put an end to their plans.
7My people are determined to turn from me.
Even though they call me God Most High,
I will by no means exalt them.
8‘How can I give you up, Ephraim?
How can I hand you over, Israel?
How can I treat you like Admah?
How can I make you like Zeboyim?
My heart is changed within me;
all my compassion is aroused.
9I will not carry out my fierce anger,
nor will I devastate Ephraim again.
For I am God, and not a man –
the Holy One among you.
I will not come against their cities.
10They will follow the Lord;
he will roar like a lion.
When he roars,
his children will come trembling from the west.
11They will come from Egypt,
trembling like sparrows,
from Assyria, fluttering like doves.
I will settle them in their homes,’
declares the Lord.
Israel’s sin
12Ephraim has surrounded me with lies,
Israel with deceit.
And Judah is unruly against God,
even against the faithful Holy One.11:12 In Hebrew texts this verse (11:12) is numbered 12:1.
Holy Bible, New International Version ® (Anglicised), NIV TM Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide. The “New International Version” is a trademark registered in the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc. The “NIV”, “Biblica”, “International Bible Society” and the Biblica Logo are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission.
The Holy Bible, New International Version ® (Anglicised) text may be quoted in any form (written, visual, electronic or audio), up to and inclusive of five hundred (500) verses without the express written permission of the publisher, providing the verses quoted do not amount to a complete book of the Bible nor do the verses quoted account for twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the total text of the work in which they are quoted. For such uses, notice of copyright must appear on the title or copyright page as follows:
Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version ® (Anglicised) Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
When quotations from The Holy Bible, New International Version ® (Anglicised) text are used by a local church in nonsaleable media such as church bulletins, orders of service, posters, overhead transparencies, or similar materials, a complete copyright notice is not required, but the title or the initials if it is a Registered Trade Mark (NIV) must appear at the end of each quotation. Permission requests that exceed the above General Use Guidelines must be directed to and approved in writing by Biblica, Inc. Please send permission requests through the Contact link at www.Biblica.com, or by mail to Biblica, Inc., Attn: Rights and Permissions, 1820 Jet Stream Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80921-3696, USA.
Processing...