6And the Lord said to me in the days of Josiah the king, Have you seen what Israel, turning away from me, has done? She has gone up on every high mountain and under every branching tree, acting like a loose woman there.
7And I said, After she has done all these things she will come back to me; but she did not. And her false sister Judah saw it.
8And though she saw that, because Israel, turning away from me, had been untrue to me, I had put her away and given her a statement in writing ending the relation between us, still Judah, her false sister, had no fear, but went and did the same.
9So that through all her loose behaviour the land became unclean, and she was untrue, giving herself to stones and trees.
10But for all this, her false sister Judah has not come back to me with all her heart, but with deceit, says the Lord.
11And the Lord said to me, Israel in her turning away is seen to be more upright than false Judah.
12Go, and give out these words to the north, and say, Come back, O Israel, though you have been turned away from me, says the Lord; my face will not be against you in wrath: for I am full of mercy, says the Lord, I will not be angry for ever.
