⁴ I led them with human cords,
with ropes of love.^(A)
To them I was like one
who eases the yoke from their jaws;^(B)
I bent down to give them food.^(C)
5 Israel will not return to the land of Egypt
and Assyria will be his king,^(D)
because they refused to repent.^(E)
6 A sword will whirl through his cities;^(F)
it will destroy and devour the bars of his gates,^[a](G)
because of their schemes.^(H)