God

Ephraim! when I have looked to the rock, Is planted in comeliness, And Ephraim is to bring out unto a slayer his sons.

Give to them, Jehovah--what dost Thou give? Give to them miscarrying womb, and dry breasts.

All their evil is in Gilgal, Surely there I have hated them, Because of the evil of their doings, Out of My house I do drive them, I add not to love them, all their heads are apostates.

Ephraim hath been smitten, Their root hath dried up, fruit they yield not, Yea, though they bring forth, I have put to death the desired of their womb.

Reject them doth my God, Because they have not hearkened to Him, And they are wanderers among nations!

Their heart hath been divided, now they are guilty, He doth break down their altars, He doth destroy their standing-pillars.

For now they say: We have no king, Because we have not feared Jehovah, And the king--what doth he for us?

When I desire, then I do bind them, And gathered against them have peoples, When they bind themselves to their two iniquities.

And Ephraim is a trained heifer--loving to thresh, And I--I have passed over on the goodness of its neck, I cause one to ride Ephraim, Plough doth Judah, harrow for him doth Jacob.

Sow for yourselves in righteousness, Reap according to loving-kindness, Till for yourselves tillage of knowledge, To seek Jehovah, Till he come and shew righteousness to you.

Because Israel is a youth, and I love him, Out of Egypt I have called for My Son.

And I have caused Ephraim to go on foot, Taking them by their arms, And they have not known that I strengthened them.

With cords of man I do draw them, With thick cords of love, And I am to them as a raiser up of a yoke on their jaws, And I incline unto him--I feed him .

And My people are hanging in suspense, about My returning, And unto the Most High they do call, Together they exalt not.

How do I give thee up, O Ephraim? Do I deliver thee up, O Israel? How do I make thee as Admah? Do I set thee as Zeboim? Turned in Me is My heart, kindled together have been My repentings.

I do not the fierceness of My anger, I turn not back to destroy Ephraim, For God I am , and not a man. In thy midst the Holy One, and I enter not in enmity,

After Jehovah they go--as a lion He roareth, When He doth roar, then tremble do the sons from the west.

They tremble as a sparrow out of Egypt, And as a dove out of the land of Asshur, And I have caused them to dwell in their own houses, An affirmation of Jehovah.

Compassed Me with feigning hath Ephraim, And with deceit the house of Israel. And Judah again is ruling with God, And with the Holy Ones is faithful!

And a controversy hath Jehovah with Judah, To lay a charge on Jacob according to his ways, According to his doings He returneth to him.

In the womb he took his brother by the heel, And by his strength he was a prince with God,

Even Jehovah, God of the Hosts, Jehovah is His memorial.

And thou, through thy God, dost turn, Kindness and judgment keep thou, And wait on thy God continually.

And I--Jehovah thy God from the land of Egypt, Again do I turn thee back into tents, As in the days of the appointed time.

And I have spoken unto the prophets, And I have multiplied vision, And by the hand of the prophets I use similes.