1. God’s Message came to me as follows:“If a man’s wifewalks out on himAnd marries another man,can he take her back as if nothing had happened?Wouldn’t that raise a huge stinkin the land?And isn’t that what you’ve done—‘whored’ your way with god after god?And now you want to come back as if nothing had happened.”God’s Decree.
11-12. Then God told me, “Fickle Israel was a good sight better than flighty Judah. Go and preach this message. Face north toward Israel and say:
12-15. “‘Turn back, fickle Israel.I’m not just hanging back to punish you.I’m committed in love to you.My anger doesn’t seethe nonstop.Just admit your guilt.Admit your God-defiance.Admit to your promiscuous life with casual partners,pulling strangers into the sex-and-religion grovesWhile turning a deaf ear to me.’”God’s Decree.“Come back, wandering children!”God’s Decree.“I, yes I, am your true husband.I’ll pick you out one by one—This one from the city, these two from the country—and bring you to Zion.I’ll give you good shepherd-rulers who rule my way,who rule you with intelligence and wisdom.
16. “And this is what will happen: You will increase and prosper in the land. The time will come”—God’s Decree!—“when no one will say any longer, ‘Oh, for the good old days! Remember the Ark of the Covenant?’ It won’t even occur to anyone to say it—‘the good old days.’ The so-called good old days of the Ark are gone for good.