Out of Egypt I Called My Son
(Matthew 2:13–15)
1When Israel was a child, I loved him,
and out of Egypt I called My son.a
2But the more I called Israel,
the farther they departed from Me.b
They sacrificed to the Baals
and burned incense to carved images.
3It was I who taught Ephraimc to walk,
taking them by the arms,
but they never realized
that it was I who healed them.
4I led them with cords of kindness,
with ropes of love;
I lifted the yoke from their necks
and bent down to feed them.
5Will they not return to the land of Egypt
and be ruled by Assyria
because they refused to repent?
6A sword will flash through their cities;
it will destroy the bars of their gates
and consume them in their own plans.
God’s Love for Israel
7My people are bent on turning from Me.
Though they call to the Most High,
He will by no means exalt them.
8How could I give you up, O Ephraim?
How could I surrender you, O Israel?
How could I make you like Admah?
How could I treat you like Zeboiim?
My heart is turned within Me;
My compassion is stirred!
9I will not execute the full fury of My anger;
I will not destroy Ephraim again.
For I am God and not man —
the Holy One among you —
and I will not come in wrath.
10They will walk after the LORD;
He will roar like a lion.
When He roars,
His children will come trembling from the west.
11They will come trembling like birds from Egypt
and like doves from the land of Assyria.
Then I will settle them in their homes,
declares the LORD.
12Ephraim surrounds Me with lies,
the house of Israel with deceit;
but Judah still walks with God
and is faithful to the Holy One.d