Afterward the Israelites will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the Lord and to his blessings in the last days.

When they go with their flocks and herds to seek the Lord, they will not find him; he has withdrawn himself from them.

Then I will return to my lair until they have borne their guilt and seek my face— in their misery they will earnestly seek me.”

I have seen a horrible thing in Israel: There Ephraim is given to prostitution, Israel is defiled.

“When I found Israel, it was like finding grapes in the desert; when I saw your ancestors, it was like seeing the early fruit on the fig tree. But when they came to Baal Peor, they consecrated themselves to that shameful idol and became as vile as the thing they loved.

I have seen Ephraim, like Tyre, planted in a pleasant place. But Ephraim will bring out their children to the slayer.”

Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you.