Then the Lord said, “Name him Lo-Ammi, because you are not my people, and I am not your God.”

The Lord Speaks to the Nation of Israel

“In the future the number of the people of Israel will be like the sand of the sea, which you cannot measure or count. In the same place that God told them, ‘You are not my people,’ he will call them ‘children of the Living God.’

“Then you will say to your brothers, ‘You are my people,’ and you will say to your sisters, ‘He has shown mercy to you.’”

I will sow her many seeds on her land. To Lo-Ruhamah, I will show mercy. To Lo-Ammi, I will say, ‘You are my people.’ And they will say to me, ‘You are our God.’”

“My people are destroyed because they have no knowledge. You priests have refused to learn, so I will refuse to let you be priests for me. You have forgotten the law of your God, so I will forget your children.

My people are asking pieces of wood for advice. They think those sticks will answer them! They have chased after those false gods like prostitutes and have left their own God.

Judah, there is also a time of harvest for you. It will happen when I bring my people back from captivity.

“My people expect me to come back. They will call to God above, but he will not help them.”