² But the more they were called,
    the more they went away from me.^[a](A)
They sacrificed to the Baals^(B)
    and they burned incense to images.^(C)
3 It was I who taught Ephraim to walk,
    taking them by the arms;^(D)
but they did not realize
    it was I who healed^(E) them.
⁴ I led them with cords of human kindness,
    with ties of love.^(F)
To them I was like one who lifts
    a little child to the cheek,
    and I bent down to feed^(G) them.^(H)