At one time you were not God’s people. But now you are God’s people. In the past you had never received mercy. But now you have received mercy \{from God\}.
I will sow her many seeds {\cf2\super [21]} on her land.\par To Lo-Ruhamah, {\cf2\super [22]} \par I will show mercy.\par To Lo-Ammi, {\cf2\super [23]} \par I will say, ‘You are my people.’\par And they will say to me,\par ‘You are my God.’”\par
Now I write about people who are not married. {\cf2\super [43]} I have no command from the Lord about this. But I give my opinion. And I can be trusted, because the Lord has given me mercy.
In the past I spoke against Christ and persecuted him and did things to hurt him. But God gave me mercy because I did not know what I was doing. I did those things when I did not believe.