God

Efrayim, as I see it, is like Tzor, planted in a pleasant place; but Efrayim will bring out his children to the slaughterer.

ADONAI, give them - what will you give? Give them wombs that miscarry and dried-up breasts!

"All their wickedness was already there in Gilgal; that's where I came to hate them. Because of the wickedness of their deeds I will expel them from my house, I will love them no more; all their leaders are rebels.

Efrayim has been struck down, their root has been dried up, they will bear no fruit. Even if they do give birth, I will kill their cherished offspring."

My God will cast them aside, because they wouldn't listen to him, and they will become wanderers among the Goyim.

Their heart is divided; now they will bear their guilt. He will break down their altars and destroy their standing-stones.

For now they will say, "We have no king, because we didn't fear ADONAI - and what could a king do for us, anyway?"

When I wish to, I will discipline them; and the peoples will be gathered against them to discipline them for their two crimes."

Efrayim is a well-taught cow - it loves to tread the grain, and I have spared her fair neck. But I will put Efrayim in harness, Y'hudah will have to plow, Ya'akov will harrow his own land.

If you sow righteousness for yourselves, you will reap according to grace. Break up unused ground for yourselves, because it is time to seek ADONAI, till he comes and rains down righteousness upon you.

"When Isra'el was a child, I loved him; and out of Egypt I called my son.

"Yet it was I who taught Efrayim to walk; I took them by their arms. But they did not know that it was I who was healing them,

who was guiding them on through human means with reins made of love. With them I was like someone removing the yoke from their jaws, and I bent down to feed them.

My people are hanging in suspense about returning to me; and though they call them upwards, nobody makes a move.

Efrayim, how can I give you up, or surrender you, Isra'el? How could I treat you like Admah or make you like Tzvoyim? My heart recoils at the idea, as compassion warms within me.

I will not give vent to the fierceness of my rage, I will not return to destroy Efrayim; for I am God, not a human being, the Holy One among you; so I will not come in fury.

They will go after ADONAI, who will roar like a lion; for he will roar, and the children will come trembling from the west.

They will tremble like a bird as they come from Egypt, like a dove as they come from the land of Ashur; and I will resettle them in their own houses, says ADONAI.

"Efrayim surrounds me with lies and the house of Isra'el with deceit. Y'hudah still rules with God and is faithful with holy ones.

ADONAI also has a grievance against Y'hudah; he will punish Ya'akov according to his ways and pay him back for his misdeeds.

In the womb he took his brother by the heel; in the strength of his manhood he fought with God.

Adonai ELOHEI-Tzva'ot; ADONAI is his name!

So you, return to your God; hold fast to grace and justice; and always put your hope in your God.

"But I am ADONAI your God, from the land of Egypt. Again I will make you live in tents, as in the days of the established festival.

I have spoken to the prophets; it was I who gave vision after vision; through the prophets I gave examples to show what it would all be like.