1. “When Israel was a child, I loved him,and I called my son out of Egypt.
2. But when I called the people of Israel,they went away from me.They offered sacrifices to the Baalsand burned incense to the idols.
3. It was I who taught Israel to walk,and I took them by the arms,but they did not understandthat I had healed them.
4. I led them with cords of human kindness,with ropes of love.I lifted the yoke from their neckand bent down and fed them.
5. “The Israelites will become captives again, as they were in Egypt,and Assyria will become their king,because they refuse to turn back to God.
6. War will sweep through their citiesand will destroy themand kill them because of their wicked plans.