For their mother has prostituted herself; she who conceived them has acted shamefully. For she said, “I will go after my lovers; they give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, my oil and my drink.”

She shall pursue her lovers but not overtake them, and she shall seek them but shall not find them. Then she shall say, “I will go and return to my first husband, for it was better with me then than now.”

Now I will uncover her shame in the sight of her lovers, and no one shall rescue her out of my hand.

I will lay waste her vines and her fig trees, of which she said, “These are my pay, which my lovers have given me.” I will make them a forest, and the wild animals shall devour them.

I will punish her for the festival days of the Baals, to whom she offered incense and decked herself with her rings and jewelry and went after her lovers and forgot me, says the Lord.

And I will take you for my wife forever; I will take you for my wife in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy.

Further Assurances of God’s Redeeming Love

The Lord said to me again, “Go, love a woman who has a lover and is an adulteress, just as the Lord loves the people of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes.”

When their drinking is ended, they indulge in sexual orgies; they love lewdness more than their glory.

Impenitence of Israel and Judah

What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes away early.

For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

For they have gone up to Assyria, a wild ass wandering alone; Ephraim has bargained for lovers.

Punishment for Israel’s Sin

Do not rejoice, O Israel! Do not exult as other nations do, for you have prostituted yourself, departing from your God. You have loved a prostitute’s pay on all threshing floors.

Like grapes in the wilderness, I found Israel. Like the first fruit on the fig tree, in its first season, I saw your ancestors. But they came to Baal-peor and consecrated themselves to a thing of shame and became detestable like the thing they loved.

Once I saw Ephraim as a young palm planted in a lovely meadow, but now Ephraim must lead out his children for slaughter.

Every evil of theirs began at Gilgal; there I came to hate them. Because of the wickedness of their deeds I will drive them out of my house. I will love them no more; all their officials are rebels.

Ephraim was a trained heifer that loved to thresh, and I spared her fair neck, but I will make Ephraim break the ground; Judah must plow; Jacob must harrow for himself.

Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.

God’s Compassion Despite Israel’s Ingratitude

When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.

I led them with cords of human kindness, with bands of love. I was to them like those who lift infants to their cheeks. I bent down to them and fed them.

But as for you, return to your God; hold fast to love and justice, and wait continually for your God.

A trader in whose hands are false balances, he loves to oppress.

Assurance of Forgiveness

I will heal their disloyalty; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them.