⁸ “How can I give you up,^(A) Ephraim?^(B)
    How can I hand you over, Israel?
How can I treat you like Admah?
    How can I make you like Zeboyim?^(C)
My heart is changed within me;
    all my compassion^(D) is aroused.^(E)

²⁰ Is not Ephraim my dear son,
    the child^(A) in whom I delight?
Though I often speak against him,
    I still remember^(B) him.
Therefore my heart yearns for him;
    I have great compassion^(C) for him,”
declares the Lord.

⁴ “What can I do with you, Ephraim?^(A)
    What can I do with you, Judah?
Your love is like the morning mist,
    like the early dew that disappears.^(B)

³⁶ The Lord will vindicate his people^(A)
    and relent^(B) concerning his servants^(C)
when he sees their strength is gone
    and no one is left, slave^(D) or free.^[a]

¹¹ “I overthrew some of you
    as I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.^(A)
You were like a burning stick^(B) snatched from the fire,
    yet you have not returned to me,”
declares the Lord.^(C)