19 Then I thought to myself about how I’d accept you to be my children,

and give you a desirable land—an inheritance that all nations consider very beautiful.

I decided that you’ll all call me ‘my father’,

and then you all won’t turn away from me.

20 However, like a woman who deals treacherously with her companion,

so too you’ve all dealt treacherously with me, you Israeli people.

That is Yahweh’s declaration.

21 A sound of weeping is heard on the barren hilltops—

≈ the Israeli people begging for mercy

because they’ve followed paths of disobedience

≈ and they’ve forgotten their god, Yahweh.

22 Come back, you unfaithful children—I will cure your faithlessness.

Say, look, we’re coming back to you because you’re our god, Yahweh.

23 Deception definitely comes from the hills—a commotion of mountains.

Our god Yahweh is certainly Yisrael’s salvation.

24 From our youth, that shameful idol worship has consumed our ancestors’ hard work—

their sheep and cattle, and their sons and daughters.

25 Let us lie down in our shame, and let our humiliation cover us,

because we’ve disobeyed our god, Yahweh.

Our ancestors and then we ourselves, haven’t listened to the voice of our god, Yahweh.