Indeed, the people of Israel are my dear children. They are the children I take delight in. For even though I must often rebuke them, I still remember them with fondness. So I am deeply moved with pity for them and will surely have compassion on them. I, the LORD, affirm it!

耶和华说：“以法莲是我的爱子吗？是可喜悦的孩子吗？我每逢责备他，仍深顾念他；所以我的心肠恋慕他；我必要怜悯他。

以法莲是我的爱子吗？是我喜欢的孩子吗？我每逢责备他，仍深顾念他。因此，我的心肠牵挂着他，我必要怜悯他。这是耶和华说的。

以法莲是我的爱子吗？是我喜欢的孩子吗？我每逢责备他，仍深顾念他。因此，我的心肠牵挂着他，我必要怜悯他。这是耶和华说的。

耶和华说：“以法莲不是我的爱子吗？他不是我喜悦的孩子吗？我虽然常常责备他，但仍然惦记着他。我深深地想念他，我必怜悯他。

以法莲是我亲爱的儿子吗？是我喜悦的孩子吗？每逢我说话攻击他，我必再次记念他。因此，我的心恋慕他；我必定怜悯他。”这是耶和华的宣告。

耶和華說：以法蓮是我的愛子嗎？是可喜悅的孩子嗎？我每逢責備他，仍深顧念他；所以我的心腸戀慕他；我必要憐憫他。

以法蓮是我的愛子嗎？是我喜歡的孩子嗎？我每逢責備他，仍深顧念他。因此，我的心腸牽掛着他，我必要憐憫他。這是耶和華說的。

以法蓮是我的愛子嗎？是我喜歡的孩子嗎？我每逢責備他，仍深顧念他。因此，我的心腸牽掛着他，我必要憐憫他。這是耶和華說的。

耶和華說：「以法蓮不是我的愛子嗎？他不是我喜悅的孩子嗎？我雖然常常責備他，但仍然惦記著他。我深深地想念他，我必憐憫他。

以法蓮是我親愛的兒子嗎？是我喜悅的孩子嗎？每逢我說話攻擊他，我必再次記念他。因此，我的心戀慕他；我必定憐憫他。”這是耶和華的宣告。

永恆主發神諭說：以法蓮是我的寶貝兒子麼？是個可喜悅的孩子麼？因為我每逢說了話譴責他，我總還是依依懷念着他。我的心腸熱戀着他；我一定要憐憫他。

以法蓮為我之愛子乎、為可悅之子乎、我每言及、則深念之、心為之動、我必矜恤之、耶和華言之矣、○

耶和華曰、以法蓮豈非我之赤子、我所眷愛者哉、予責之、輒生憐念、予矜憫為懷、復加以撫恤。

以法蓮豈非我之愛子、我所悅之赤子乎、我一言之、即顧念之、我心腸為之發矜恤、復加憐憫、此乃主所言、○

Is not Ephraim my dear son, the child in whom I delight? Though I often speak against him, I still remember him. Therefore my heart yearns for him; I have great compassion for him,” declares the Lord.

Aren’t the people of Ephraim my dear children? Aren’t they the children I take delight in? I often speak against them. But I still remember them. So my heart longs for them. I love them with a tender love,” announces the Lord.

Is Ephraim my dear son? Is he my darling child? For as often as I speak against him, I do remember him still. Therefore my heart yearns for him; I will surely have mercy on him, declares the Lord.

“ Is not Israel still my son, my darling child?” says the Lord.“ I often have to punish him, but I still love him. That’s why I long for him and surely will have mercy on him.

Isn’t Ephraim a precious son to me, a delightful child? Whenever I speak against him, I certainly still think about him. Therefore, my inner being yearns for him; I will truly have compassion on him. This is the LORD’s declaration.

Is Ephraim My dear son? Is he a delightful child? Indeed, as often as I have spoken against him, I certainly still remember him; Therefore My heart yearns for him; I will certainly have mercy on him,” declares the Lord.

Is Ephraim My dear son? Is he a pleasant child? For though I spoke against him, I earnestly remember him still; Therefore My heart yearns for him; I will surely have mercy on him, says the Lord.

Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a darling child? for as often as I speak against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my heart yearneth for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith Jehovah.

Isn’t Ephraim a precious son to Me, a delightful child? Whenever I speak against him, I certainly still think about him. Therefore, My inner being yearns for him; I will truly have compassion on him. This is the Lord’s declaration.

[ Is] Ephraim my dear son?[ is he] a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the LORD.

Is Ephraim my dear son? Is he a darling child? For as often as I speak against him, I still earnestly remember him. therefore my heart yearns for him. I will surely have mercy on him,” says Yahweh.

The wicked need to abandon their lifestyle and sinful people their plans. They should return to the LORD, and he will show mercy to them, and to their God, for he will freely forgive them.

Look down from heaven and take notice, from your holy, majestic palace! Where are your zeal and power? Do not hold back your tender compassion!

“ I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger will turn away from them.

So my heart constantly sighs for Moab, like the strumming of a harp, my inner being sighs for Kir Hareseth.

My lover thrust his hand through the hole, and my feelings were stirred for him.

because this son of mine was dead, and is alive again– he was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.

They threw away the foreign gods they owned and worshiped the LORD. Finally the LORD grew tired of seeing Israel suffer so much.

For the Lord will not reject us forever.Though he causes us grief, he then has compassion on us according to the abundance of his loyal kindness.

For God is my witness that I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

They will come back shedding tears of contrition. I will bring them back praying prayers of repentance. I will lead them besides streams of water, along smooth paths where they will never stumble. I will do this because I am Israel’s father; Ephraim is my firstborn son.’”

The LORD will judge his people, and will change his plans concerning his servants; when he sees that their power has disappeared, and that no one is left, whether confined or set free.

“ I thought to myself,‘ Oh what a joy it would be for me to treat you like a son! What a joy it would be for me to give you a pleasant land, the most beautiful piece of property there is in all the world!’ I thought you would call me,‘ Father’ and would never cease being loyal to me.

There is no other God like you! You forgive sin and pardon the rebellion of those who remain among your people. You do not remain angry forever, but delight in showing loyal love.You will once again have mercy on us; you will conquer our evil deeds; you will hurl our sins into the depths of the sea.

As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on his faithful followers.

Joseph hurried out, for he was overcome by affection for his brother and was at the point of tears. So he went to his room and wept there.

How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I surrender you, O Israel? How can I treat you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboiim? I have had a change of heart! All my tender compassions are aroused!I cannot carry out my fierce anger! I cannot totally destroy Ephraim! Because I am God, and not man– the Holy One among you– I will not come in wrath!

The real mother spoke up to the king, for her motherly instincts were aroused. She said,“ My master, give her the living child! Whatever you do, don’t kill him!” But the other woman said,“ Neither one of us will have him! Let them cut him in two!”

For the LORD disciplines those he loves, just as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights.

So my heart moans for Moab like a flute playing a funeral song. Yes, like a flute playing a funeral song, my heart moans for the people of Kir Heres. For the wealth they have gained will perish.

For I will not be hostile forever or perpetually angry, for then man’s spirit would grow faint before me, the life-giving breath I created.I was angry because of their sinful greed; I attacked them and angrily rejected them, yet they remained disobedient and stubborn.I have seen their behavior, but I will heal them and give them rest, and I will once again console those who mourn.

It was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost and is found.’”