8. She saw that I divorced faithless Israel because of her adultery. But that treacherous sister Judah had no fear, and now she, too, has left me and given herself to prostitution.
9. Israel treated it all so lightly—she thought nothing of committing adultery by worshiping idols made of wood and stone. So now the land has been polluted.
10. But despite all this, her faithless sister Judah has never sincerely returned to me. She has only pretended to be sorry. I, the lord, have spoken!”
11. Then the lord said to me, “Even faithless Israel is less guilty than treacherous Judah!
12. Therefore, go and give this message to Israel. This is what the lord says:“O Israel, my faithless people,come home to me again,for I am merciful.I will not be angry with you forever.
13. Only acknowledge your guilt.Admit that you rebelled against the lord your Godand committed adultery against himby worshiping idols under every green tree.Confess that you refused to listen to my voice.I, the lord, have spoken!
14. “Return home, you wayward children,”says the lord,“for I am your master.I will bring you back to the land of Israel—one from this town and two from that family—from wherever you are scattered.
15. And I will give you shepherds after my own heart,who will guide you with knowledge and understanding.
16. “And when your land is once more filled with people,” says the lord, “you will no longer wish for ‘the good old days’ when you possessed the Ark of the lord’s Covenant. You will not miss those days or even remember them, and there will be no need to rebuild the Ark.