6. During the reign of King Josiah, the lord said to me, “Have you seen what fickle Israel has done? Like a wife who commits adultery, Israel has worshiped other gods on every hill and under every green tree.
7. I thought, ‘After she has done all this, she will return to me.’ But she did not return, and her faithless sister Judah saw this.
8. She saw that I divorced faithless Israel because of her adultery. But that treacherous sister Judah had no fear, and now she, too, has left me and given herself to prostitution.
9. Israel treated it all so lightly—she thought nothing of committing adultery by worshiping idols made of wood and stone. So now the land has been polluted.
10. But despite all this, her faithless sister Judah has never sincerely returned to me. She has only pretended to be sorry. I, the lord, have spoken!”
11. Then the lord said to me, “Even faithless Israel is less guilty than treacherous Judah!
12. Therefore, go and give this message to Israel. This is what the lord says:“O Israel, my faithless people,come home to me again,for I am merciful.I will not be angry with you forever.
13. Only acknowledge your guilt.Admit that you rebelled against the lord your Godand committed adultery against himby worshiping idols under every green tree.Confess that you refused to listen to my voice.I, the lord, have spoken!
14. “Return home, you wayward children,”says the lord,“for I am your master.I will bring you back to the land of Israel—one from this town and two from that family—from wherever you are scattered.