20 But you have been unfaithful to me, you people of Israel!You have been like a faithless wife who leaves her husband.I, the lord, have spoken.”
21 Voices are heard high on the windswept mountains,the weeping and pleading of Israel’s people.For they have chosen crooked pathsand have forgotten the lord their God.
22 “My wayward children,” says the lord,“come back to me, and I will heal your wayward hearts.”“Yes, we’re coming,” the people reply,“for you are the lord our God.
23 Our worship of idols on the hillsand our religious orgies on the mountainsare a delusion.Only in the lord our Godwill Israel ever find salvation.
24 From childhood we have watchedas everything our ancestors worked for—their flocks and herds, their sons and daughters—was squandered on a delusion.
25 Let us now lie down in shameand cover ourselves with dishonor,for we and our ancestors have sinnedagainst the lord our God.From our childhood to this daywe have never obeyed him.”