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.
8. She also saw that I sent unfaithful Israel away with divorce papers because of all her acts of unfaithfulness; yet disloyal sister Judah was not afraid but kept on playing the prostitute.
9. She didn’t think twice about corrupting the land and committing adultery with stone and tree.
10. Yet even after all this, disloyal sister Judah didn’t return to me with all her heart but only insincerely, declares the Lord.
11. Then the Lord said to me: Unfaithful Israel is less guilty than disloyal Judah.
12. Go proclaim these words to the north and say:Return, unfaithful Israel,declares the Lord.I won’t reject you,for I’m faithful,declares the Lord;I won’t stay angry forever.