Study Desk

When Israel was a youth I loved him, And ^(C1)out of Egypt I ^(C2)called My son.

The more ^(F1)(C1)they called them, The more they went away from ^(F1)them; They kept ^(C2)sacrificing to the Baals And ^(C3)burning incense to idols.

Yet it is I who taught Ephraim to walk, ^(F1)I ^(C1)took them in My arms; But they did not know that I ^(C2)healed them.

I ^(C1)pulled them along with cords of a man, with ropes of love, And ^(C2)I became to them as one who lifts the yoke from their jaws; And I bent down and ^(C3)fed them.

^(F1)They will not return to the land of Egypt; But Assyria—he will be ^(F2)their king Because they ^(C1)refused to return to Me.

And the ^(C1)sword will whirl against ^(F1)their cities, And will destroy ^(F1)their oracle priests And ^(C2)consume them, because of their ^(C3)counsels.

So My people are determined to ^(C1)turn from Me. Though ^(F1)they call ^(F2)them to the One on high, None at all exalts Him.

^(C1)How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I surrender you, Israel? How can I ^(F1)make you like ^(C2)Admah? How can I treat you like ^(C2)Zeboiim? My heart is turned over within Me, ^(F2)All My compassions are kindled.

I will ^(C1)not carry out My fierce anger; I will not destroy Ephraim ^(C2)again. For ^(C3)I am God and not a man, the ^(C4)Holy One in your midst, And I will not come in ^(F1)wrath.

They will ^(C1)walk after the LORD, He will ^(C2)roar like a lion; Indeed He will roar, And His sons will come ^(C3)trembling from the west.

They will come trembling like birds from ^(C1)Egypt, And like ^(C2)doves from the land of ^(C1)Assyria; And I will ^(C3)settle them in their houses, declares the LORD.

^(F1)Ephraim surrounds Me with ^(C1)lies And the house of Israel with deceit; ^(F2)Judah is still unruly against God, Even against the Holy One who is faithful.