Listen, O heavens! Hear, O earth! For the Lord Yahweh has spoken: “I tenderly nurtured children and made them great, but they have rebelled against me!
Therefore, hear the word of Lord Yahweh, you Mountains of Israel! Lord Yahweh has a message for the mountains and hills, the ravines and valleys, the devastated ruins and abandoned cities that have been ransacked by your enemies and ridiculed by all the nations around you.
Hear, O earth! I am bringing a catastrophe to these people, the fruit of their own evil schemes. For they refused to listen to my words, and threw all my instructions and warnings to the wind.”
Day after day I have graciously outstretched my hands to a people who turned their backs to me, whose way of life is corrupt, who insist on going their own way.
This is what Yahweh says: “Woe to the rebellious children, who carry out their own plans but not mine, and who sign treaties without consulting my Spirit, piling one sin upon another.
They will return praying with tears as I lead them home. I will guide them to streams of water, by a smooth path where they will not stumble. For I am Israel’s Father, and Ephraim is my firstborn son.
For you are our loving Father. Even if our ancestors, Abraham and Jacob, don’t acknowledge us, you, O Yahweh, are our loving Father! From ancient times your name is our Redeemer.
“Come back to me, you unfaithful ones! Let me heal your waywardness and restore your faithfulness.” “We’re here! We’re coming back to you, Yahweh, because you are our God.