7. And I thought: After she has done all this, she will return to me. But she did not return. Then, even though that traitor her sister Judah, saw
8. that, in response to all the adulteries rebel Israel had committed, I sent her away and gave her a bill of divorce, nevertheless Judah, the traitor, her sister, was not frightened; she too went off and played the prostitute.
9. With her casual prostitution, she polluted the land, committing adultery with stone and wood.
10. In spite of all this, Judah, the traitor, her sister, did not return to me wholeheartedly, but insincerely—oracle of the Lord.
11. Then the Lord said to me: Rebel Israel is more just than traitor Judah.
12. Go, proclaim these words toward the north, and say:Return, rebel Israel—oracle of the Lord—I will not remain angry with you;For I am merciful, oracle of the Lord,I will not keep my anger forever.
13. Only admit your guilt:how you have rebelled against the Lord, your God,How you ran here and there to strangersunder every green treeand would not listen to my voice—oracle of the Lord.
14. Return, rebellious children—oracle of the Lord—for I am your master;I will take you, one from a city, two from a clan,and bring you to Zion.
15. I will appoint for you shepherds after my own heart,who will shepherd you wisely and prudently.
16. When you increase in number and are fruitful in the land—oracle of the Lord—They will in those days no longer say,“The ark of the covenant of the Lord!”They will no longer think of it, or remember it,or miss it, or make another one.
17. At that time they will call Jerusalem “the Lord’s throne.” All nations will gather together there to honor the name of the Lord at Jerusalem, and they will no longer stubbornly follow their wicked heart.
18. In those days the house of Judah will walk alongside the house of Israel; together they will come from the land of the north to the land which I gave your ancestors as a heritage.
19. I thought:How I would like to make you my children!So I gave you a pleasant land,the most beautiful heritage among the nations!You would call me, “My Father,” I thought,and you would never turn away from me.
20. But like a woman faithless to her lover,thus have you been faithless to me,house of Israel—oracle of the Lord.
21. A cry is heard on the heights!the plaintive weeping of Israel’s children,Because they have perverted their way,they have forgotten the Lord, their God.
22. Return, rebellious children!I will heal your rebellions.“Here we are! We belong to you,for you are the Lord, our God.