1. This is what the Lord says: “People of Israel, you say that I divorced your mother, Jerusalem. But where is the legal paper that proves I divorced her? My children, did I owe money to someone? Did I sell you to pay a debt? No, you were sold because of the bad things you did. Your mother was sent away because of the bad things you did.
2. I came home and found no one there. I called and called, but no one answered. Do you think I cannot get you back? Do you think I cannot save you? Look, if I gave the command, the ocean would dry up! I can turn rivers into a desert. The fish would die without water, and their bodies would rot.
3. I can make the skies dark. I can cover the skies in darkness as black as sackcloth.”
4. The Lord GOD gave me the ability to teach, so now I teach these sad people. Every morning he wakes me and teaches me like a student.
5. The Lord GOD helps me learn, and I have not turned against him. I will not stop following him.
6. I will let those people beat me and pull the hair from my beard. I will not hide my face when they say bad things to me and spit at me.