WhenIsrael[was] a youthI lovedhim, And out of EgyptI calledMy son.
He remainedthereuntilthe deathof Herod.[This was] to fulfillwhathad been spokenby the Lordthroughthe prophet:"OUT OF EGYPTI CALLEDMY SON."
"Then you shall sayto Pharaoh,'Thussaysthe LORD,"Israelis My son,My firstborn.
Yet I [have been] the LORDyour GodSincethe landof Egypt;And you were not to knowany godexceptMe, For thereis nosaviorbesidesMe.
"Then I will giveher her vineyardsfrom there,And the valleyof Achoras a doorof hope.And she will singthereas in the daysof her youth,As in the daywhen she cameup from the landof Egypt.
"Goand proclaimin the earsof Jerusalem,saying,'Thussaysthe LORD,"I rememberconcerning you the devotionof your youth,The loveof your betrothals,Your followingafterMe in the wilderness,Through a landnot sown.
"I have lovedyou," saysthe LORD.But you say,"Howhave You lovedus?" "[Was] not EsauJacob'sbrother?"declaresthe LORD."Yet I have lovedJacob;
But by a prophetthe LORDbroughtIsraelfrom Egypt,And by a prophethe was kept.
"When I passedby you and sawyou squirmingin your blood,I saidto you [while you were] in your blood,'Live!'Yes, I saidto you [while you were] in your blood,'Live!'
"The LORDdid not setHis loveon you norchooseyou becauseyou were morein numberthananyof the peoples,for you were the fewestof allpeoples,
But I [have been] the LORDyour Godsincethe landof Egypt;I will make you livein tentsagain,As in the daysof the appointedfestival.
"So I saidto you, 'LetMy songothat he may serveMe'; but you have refusedto lethim go.Behold,I will killyour son,your firstborn."'"
"Manytimesthey have persecutedme from my youthup," Let Israelnowsay,
"I have forsakenMy house,I have abandonedMy inheritance;I have giventhe belovedof My soulInto the handof her enemies.
Thusit will be doneto you at Bethelbecauseof your greatwickedness.At dawnthe kingof Israelwill be completelycutoff.
You yourselveshave seenwhatI didto the Egyptians,and [how] I boreyou on eagles'wings,and broughtyou to Myself.
"Indeed,He lovesthe people;AllYour holyonesare in Your hand,And they followedin Your steps;[Everyone] receivesof Your words.
"Sinceyou are preciousin My sight,[Since] you are honoredand I loveyou, I will give[other] menin your placeand [other] peoplesin exchangefor your life.
"Besidesallyour abominationsand harlotriesyou did not rememberthe daysof your youth,when you were nakedand bareand squirmingin your blood.
