[Hosea 11: 1-4]

1. "When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.

2. But the more I called Israel, the further they went from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images.

3. It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them.

4. I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them.