“‘How gladly would I treat you like my children
    and give you a pleasant land,^(A)
    the most beautiful inheritance^(B) of any nation.’
I thought you would call me ‘Father’^(C)
    and not turn away from following me.
²⁰ But like a woman unfaithful to her husband,
    so you, Israel, have been unfaithful^(D) to me,”
declares the Lord.

²¹ A cry is heard on the barren heights,^(E)
    the weeping^(F) and pleading of the people of Israel,
because they have perverted their ways
    and have forgotten^(G) the Lord their God.

²² “Return,^(H) faithless people;
    I will cure^(I) you of backsliding.”^(J)

“Yes, we will come to you,
    for you are the Lord our God.
²³ Surely the idolatrous commotion on the hills^(K)
    and mountains is a deception;
surely in the Lord our God
    is the salvation^(L) of Israel.
²⁴ From our youth shameful^(M) gods have consumed
    the fruits of our ancestors’ labor—
their flocks and herds,
    their sons and daughters.
²⁵ Let us lie down in our shame,^(N)
    and let our disgrace cover us.
We have sinned^(O) against the Lord our God,
    both we and our ancestors;^(P)
from our youth^(Q) till this day
    we have not obeyed^(R) the Lord our God.”

4 “If you, Israel, will return,^(S)
    then return to me,”
declares the Lord.
“If you put your detestable idols^(T) out of my sight
    and no longer go astray,
² and if in a truthful, just and righteous way
    you swear,^(U) ‘As surely as the Lord lives,’^(V)
then the nations will invoke blessings^(W) by him
    and in him they will boast.^(X)”