1. When Israel was a child, I loved him,and out of Egypt I called my son.
2. The more I called them,the further they went from me;they kept sacrificing to the Baals,and they burned incense to idols.
3. Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk;I took them up in my arms,but they did not know that I healed them.
4. I led themwith bands of human kindness,with cords of love.I treated them like thosewho lift infants to their cheeks;I bent down to them and fed them.