God's Love for His Rebellious People
1 The Lord says,
“When Israel was a child, I loved him
and called him out of Egypt as my son.
2 But the more I called to him,
the more he turned away from me.
My people sacrificed to Baal;
they burned incense to idols.
3 Yet I was the one who taught Israel to walk.
I took my people up in my arms,
but they did not acknowledge that I took care of them.
4 I drew them to me with affection and love.
I picked them up and held them to my cheek;
I bent down to them and fed them.
5 “They refuse to return to me, and so they must return to Egypt, and Assyria will rule them. 6 War will sweep through their cities and break down the city gates. It will destroy my people because they do what they themselves think best. 7 They insist on turning away from me. They will cry out because of the yoke that is on them, but no one will lift it from them.
8 “How can I give you up, Israel?
How can I abandon you?
Could I ever destroy you as I did Admah,
or treat you as I did Zeboiim?
My heart will not let me do it!
My love for you is too strong.
9 I will not punish you in my anger;
I will not destroy Israel again.
For I am God and not a mere human being.
I, the Holy One, am with you.
I will not come to you in anger.
10 “My people will follow me when I roar like a lion at their enemies. They will hurry to me from the west. 11 They will come from Egypt, as swiftly as birds, and from Assyria, like doves. I will bring them to their homes again. I, the Lord, have spoken.”
Israel and Judah Are Condemned
12 The Lord says, “The people of Israel have surrounded me with lies and deceit, and the people of Judah are still rebelling against me, the faithful and holy God.
1 Kad Israēls bija jauns, Es viņu, Savu dēlu, iemīlēju un atsaucu šurpu no Ēģiptes. 2 Bet, ja Israēla ļaudis saucu tagad, tad viņi novēršas no Manis, nes ziedojumus baaliem un kvēpina elka dieviem. 3 Es satvēru Efraima rokas un vadīju viņu, bet viņi neievēroja, ka Es viņiem palīdzēju. 4 Ar cilvēciskām saitēm Es viņus vilku pie Sevis, ar mīlestības saitēm, Es padarīju vaļīgākas jūga sakas ap viņu kakliem un ēdināju viņus. 5 Viņi neatgriezīsies gan vairs uz Ēģiptes zemi, taču Asurs būs viņu ķēniņš, jo viņi negrib atgriezties pie Manis. 6 Zobens pakļaus sev viņu pilsētas, satrieks viņu cietokšņus un aprīs viņu diženākos viņu padomu dēļ. 7 Mana tauta ir piekususi, lai atgrieztos pie Manis, un, kad viņai to sludina, tad neviena sirds neceļas šiem vārdiem pretī. 8 Bet kā Es lai rīkojos ar tevi, kā Es tevi lai atstāju, Efraim, kā lai Es nododu tevi citu rokās, Israēl? Vai lai Es vienkārši nepārvēršu tevi par Admu un nesagrauju drupās kā Ceboimu , kad abas šīs pilsētas tika izpostītas? Bet Mana sirds noskaņota citādi, Es esmu par daudz dedzīgs Savā žēlsirdībā, 9 lai Es rīkotos pēc Savu dusmu versmes un lai Es izšķirtos Efraimu iznīcināt galīgi. Jo Es esmu Dievs un ne cilvēks, Es esmu Svētais tavā vidū, bet Es nenākšu pie tevis Savu dusmu bargumā. 10 Tad viņi sekos Tam Kungam, un Viņa balss būs skaļa kā lauvas rūkoņa. Un, Viņam lauvas balsī runājot, drebēdami nāks bērni no rietumu puses. 11 Un tie, kas Ēģiptē, arī nāks drebēdami kā putni, un tie, kas Asura zemē, nāks kā baloži. Un tad Es viņus nometināšu viņu mājokļos, saka Tas Kungs.
