19. I thought to myself, How wonderful it would beto treat you like childrenand give you a beautiful land,an inheritance unrivaled among the nations.And I thought, You will call me father,and you won’t turn away from me.
20. But as a woman betrays her lover,so you, people of Israel, have betrayed me,declares the Lord.
21. A voice is heard on the well-traveled paths;it’s the crying and pleading of the people of Israel,who have lost their wayand forgotten the Lord their God.
22. Return, rebellious children,and I will heal your rebellion."Here we are; we come to you,for you are the Lord our God.
23. Surely what happens on the hills is a waste,as is the uproar on the mountains.Only in the Lord our Godis the salvation of Israel.
24. From our youth, shame has devouredthe fruit of our parents’ labor—their flocks and herds,as well as their sons and daughters.
25. Let’s lie down in our shame.Let our dishonor cover us,for we have sinned against the Lord our God,both we and our ancestors,from our youth to this very day.We have disobeyed the voice of the Lord our God."