Yet I am the Lord your God, ever since the land of Egypt, and you shall know no God but Me, for there is no savior besides Me. I knew you in the wilderness, in the land of great drought. When they had pasture, they were filled. They were filled and their heart was exalted; therefore they forgot Me. So I will be to them like a lion, like a leopard by the road I will lurk. I will meet them like a bear deprived of her cubs. I will tear open their rib cage, and there I will devour them like a lion. The wild beast shall tear them. O Israel, you are destroyed, but your help is from Me. I will be your King. Where is any other, that he may save you in all your cities?
Yet. In spite of your transgressions, O Israel. In spite of your stiff-necked ways. In spite of your pagan idolatry. Yet I am the Lord your God. I will be to you (if I must be) like a bear deprived of her cubs. I will bring about your destruction, but (or yet) your help is from Me. I will be your King. Yet.
