But you have been like a woman\par that is unfaithful to her husband.\par Family of Israel, you have been unfaithful to me!”\par This message was from the Lord.\par
We will hear songs of praise for God from every place on earth.\par These songs will praise the Good God.\par But I say;\par “Enough! I have had enough!\par The things I see are terrible.\par Traitors {\cf2\super [232]} are turning against people\par and hurting them.\par
“But even then,\par you didnt listen to me!\par You didn‘t learn anything!\par You refused to listen to anything\par I told you.\par I have known since the beginning\par that you would be against me.\par You have rebelled against me\par from the time you were born.\par
Lord, if I argue with you,\par you are always right!\par But I want to ask you about some things that don’t seem right.\par Why are wicked people successful?\par Why do people you can’t trust have such easy lives?\par
Then the Lord said to me again, “Gomer {\cf2\super [24]} has many lovers. But you must continue loving her. Why? Because that is like the Lord. The Lord continues loving the people of Israel. But they continue to worship other gods. And they love to eat raisin cakes.” {\cf2\super [25]}
The people of Judah cheated other people. People in Jerusalem and Israel did terrible things! God loves the temple. {\cf2\super [13]} But the people in Judah didn’t respect the Lord’s holy temple. The people of Judah began to worship that foreign goddess!