²⁰ Instead, as a faithless wife leaves her husband,
    so you have been faithless to me, O house of Israel,
            says the Lord.^(A)

3 If^[a] a man divorces his wife
    and she goes from him
and becomes another man’s wife,
    will he return to her?
Would not such a land be greatly polluted?
You have prostituted yourself with many lovers,
    and would you return to me?
            says the Lord.^(A)
2 Look up to the bare heights^[b] and see!
    Where have you not been lain with?
By the waysides you sat waiting for lovers,
    like a nomad in the wilderness.
You have polluted the land
    with your prostitutions and wickedness.^(B)
3 Therefore the showers have been withheld,
    and the spring rain has not come,
yet you have the forehead of a prostitute;
    you refuse to be ashamed.^(C)
4 Have you not just now called to me,
    “My Father, you are the friend of my youth—^(D)

¹⁸ Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity
    and passing over the transgression
    of the remnant of his possession?
He does not retain his anger forever
    because he delights in showing steadfast love.^(A)
19 He will again have compassion upon us;
    he will tread our iniquities under foot.
You will cast all our^[a] sins
    into the depths of the sea.^(B)
20 You will show faithfulness to Jacob
    and steadfast love to Abraham,
as you have sworn to our ancestors
    from the days of old.^(C)

²⁰ Is Ephraim my dear son?
    Is he the child in whom I delight?
As often as I speak against him,
    I still remember him.
Therefore I am deeply moved for him;
    I will surely have mercy on him,
            says the Lord.^(A)