The Hebrew Prophets

turmoil will erupt among your peoples, and all your fortresses will be destroyed; just as Shalman destroyed Beit-Arbel on the day of battle, when mothers were dashed to pieces right along with their children.

Thus will be done to you, Beit-El, because of your great wickedness; at dawn the king of Isra'el will be completely cut off.

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

But the more [the prophets] called them, the farther they went from them. They sacrificed to the ba'alim and offered incense to idols.

"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.

He will not return to the land of Egypt, but Ashur will be his king, because they refused to repent.

The sword will fall on his cities, destroying the bars of his gates, because they follow their own advice.

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.

Efrayim is chasing the wind, pursuing the wind from the east. All day he piles up lies and desolation they make a covenant with Ashur, while sending olive oil to Egypt.

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.

Yes, he fought with an angel and won; he wept and pleaded with him. Then at Beit-El he found him, and there he would [later] speak with us

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.

"A huckster keeps false scales, and he loves to cheat.

Efrayim says, 'I have gotten so rich! I have made me a fortune! And in all my profits no one will find anything wrong or sinful.'

"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.

Is Gil'ad given to iniquity? Yes, they have become worthless. In Gilgal they sacrifice to bulls; therefore their altars are like piles of stones in a plowed field."