Therefore they will be like the morning cloud, or like the early dew that passes away, like chaff blown off the threshing floor, or like the smoke from a chimney.
How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboyim? My heart churns within Me; My compassion is stirred.
You recently turned and did what was right in My sight by proclaiming liberty, every man to his neighbor; and you made a covenant before Me in the house that is called by My name.
How shall I pardon you for this? Your children have forsaken Me and sworn by those who are not gods. When I had fed them to the full, then they committed adultery and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots’ houses.
But I said: How can I put you among My sons and give you a pleasant land, the most beautiful inheritance of the nations? And I said: You shall call Me, My Father, and shall not turn away from Me.
When I would heal Israel, the iniquity of Ephraim is revealed, and the wickedness of Samaria. For they deal deceitfully; the thief breaks in; the robbers raid outside,
Then the Israelites once more did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, so the Lord strengthened King Eglon of Moab against Israel because they had done what was evil in the sight of the Lord.