Out of Egypt I Called My Son (Matthew 2:13–15)
2 UST { However, the more} I called to the Israelites, the more they ignored me. Those people kept offering sacrifices to the Baal{ gods} and burning{ incense} to{ honor} the statues of them. BSB BSB: But the more I called Israel, the farther they departed from Me. They sacrificed to the Baals and burned incense to carved images.
3 UST { The people of} Ephraim{ were like a small child and} I was{ like} the one who taught them to walk. It was as though I carried them in my arms, but they did not understand that I was the one who took care of them. BSB BSB: It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms, but they never realized that it was I who healed them.
4 UST I gently guided them, because I loved them. I was to them like a loving father who lifts his infant to his cheek and I bent down to feed them. BSB BSB: I led them with cords of kindness, with ropes of love; I lifted the yoke from their necks and bent down to feed them.
5 UST The Israelites will not return to{ being slaves in} the land of Egypt, but{ now} the king of Assyria will rule over them, because they refused to worship me any more. BSB BSB: Will they not return to the land of Egypt and be ruled by Assyria because they refused to repent?
6 UST Enemies will attack{ the people in} their cities with swords and will destroy the bars{ of their gates}. Their enemies will kill them because of their{ evil} plans. BSB BSB: A sword will flash through their cities; it will destroy the bars of their gates and consume them in their own plans.
7 UST My people are determined to no longer worship me. Though they call out to me, the Most High, I will certainly not help them. BSB BSB: My people are bent on turning from Me. Though they call to the Most High, He will by no means exalt them.
God’s Love for Israel 9 UST Although I am extremely angry, I will not act accordingly; I will not destroy{ the people of} Ephraim again!{ I will do this} because I am God, not a human being. I am the Holy One who lives among you, and I will not come to destroy you even though I am extremely angry.” BSB BSB: I 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.
10 UST { Hosea said,}“The Israelites will return to Yahweh. He will call out with a loud, powerful voice, and when it is he who calls out, his people will come back, deeply respectful, from{ the lands around} the sea{ to the west}. BSB BSB: They will walk after the LORD; He will roar like a lion. When He roars, His children will come trembling from the west.
11 UST Others of his people will come from Egypt{ as timid} as a bird, and others will come from the land of Assyria{ as docile} as a dove.” I will settle them in their own homes again.{ This will happen, because} I, Yahweh, have declared it. BSB BSB: They 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.
12 UST The people of Ephraim have constantly lied to me, yes, the people of Israel are continually treacherous. However, the people of Judah still obey God; they remain faithful to the Holy One. BSB BSB: Ephraim surrounds Me with lies, the house of Israel with deceit; but Judah still walks with God and is faithful to the Holy One.