Jeremiah 3:6-14
The LORD said to me in the days of King Josiah: Have you seen what she
did, that faithless one, Israel, how she went up on every high hill and
under every green tree, and played the whore there? And I thought, "After
she has done all this she will return to me"; but she did not return, and
her false sister Judah saw it. She saw that for all the adulteries of
that faithless one, Israel, I had sent her away with a decree of divorce;
yet her false sister Judah did not fear, but she too went and played the
whore. Because she took her whoredom so lightly, she polluted the land,
committing adultery with stone and tree. Yet for all this her false
sister Judah did not return to me with her whole heart, but only in
pretense, says the LORD.
Then the LORD said to me: Faithless Israel has shown herself less guilty
than false Judah. Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say:
Return, faithless Israel,
says the LORD.
I will not look on you in anger,
for I am merciful,
says the LORD;
I will not be angry forever.
Only acknowledge your guilt,
that you have rebelled against the LORD your God,
and scattered your favors among strangers under every green tree,
and have not obeyed my voice,
says the LORD.
Return, O faithless children,
says the LORD,
for I am your master;
I will take you, one from a city and two from a family,
and I will bring you to Zion.
