19. “But I said:‘How can I put you among the childrenAnd give you a pleasant land,A beautiful heritage of the hosts of nations?’“And I said:‘You shall call Me, “My Father,”And not turn away from Me.’
20. Surely, as a wife treacherously departs from her husband,So have you dealt treacherously with Me,O house of Israel,” says the Lord.
21. A voice was heard on the desolate heights,Weeping and supplications of the children of Israel.For they have perverted their way;They have forgotten the Lord their God.
22. “Return, you backsliding children,And I will heal your backslidings.”“Indeed we do come to You,For You are the Lord our God.
23. Truly, in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills,And from the multitude of mountains;Truly, in the Lord our GodIs the salvation of Israel.
24. For shame has devouredThe labor of our fathers from our youth—Their flocks and their herds,Their sons and their daughters.
25. We lie down in our shame,And our reproach covers us.For we have sinned against the Lord our God,We and our fathers,From our youth even to this day,And have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God.”