1. If a man divorces his wife,and after she leaves him marries another,can he return to her again?Wouldn’t such an act completely corrupt the land?Yet you have prostituted yourself with many lovers.Would you return to me?declares the Lord.
2. Look to the well-traveled paths and see!Where haven’t you committed adultery?On the roadsides you sit in wait for lovers,like a nomad in the wilderness.You have corrupted the landwith your cheap and reckless behavior.
3. That’s why the showers have failedand the spring rains have ceased.Still you act like a brazen prostitutewho refuses to blush.
4. At the same time you say to me,"My father, my friend since youth,
5. will you stay angry forever?Will you continue to be furious?"This is what you saywhile you do as much evil as you possibly can.
6. During the rule of King Josiah, the Lord said to me: Have you noticed what unfaithful Israel has done? She’s gone about looking for lovers on top of every high hill and under every lush tree.
7. I thought that after she had done all this she would return to me, but she didn’t. Her disloyal sister Judah saw this.