Read the Bible

¹ When Israel was a child,
I loved him,
and I called
    my son out of Egypt.
² But as the saying goes,
"The more they were called,
    the more they rebelled."^[a]
They never stopped offering
incense and sacrifices
    to the idols of Baal.

³ I took Israel by the arm
    and taught them to walk.
But they would not admit
that I was the one
    who had healed them.
⁴ I led them with kindness
and with love,
    not with ropes.
I held them close to me;^[b]
    I bent down to feed them.

⁵ But they trusted Egypt
instead of returning to me;
    now Assyria will rule them.
⁶ War will visit their cities,
    and their plans will fail.^[c]
7 My people are determined
    to reject me for a god
they think is stronger,
    but he can't help.^[d]

⁸ Israel, I can't let you go.
    I can't give you up.
How could I possibly destroy you
as I did the towns of Admah
    and Zeboiim?^[e]
I just can't do it.
My feelings for you
    are much too strong.
⁹ Israel, I won't lose my temper
    and destroy you again.
I am the Holy God—
not merely some human,
    and I won't stay angry.

¹⁰ I, the Lord, will roar like a lion,
and my children will return,
    trembling
from the west.
¹¹ They will come back,
fluttering like birds from Egypt
    or like doves from Assyria.
Then I will bring them
back to their homes.
    I, the Lord, have spoken!

¹² Israel is deceitful to me,
    their loyal and holy God;
they surround me with lies,
and Judah worships
    other gods.^[f]