If no, I shall strip her naked, and set her, even as she came into the world. Yea, I shall lay her waste, and make her like a wilderness, and slay her for thirst.

I shall have no pity also upon her children, for they be the children of fornication.

Their mother hath broken her wedlock, and she that bare them, is come to confusion. For she said, 'I will go after my lovers, that give me my water and my bread, my wool and my flax, my oil and my drink.'

"But I will hedge her way with thorns, and stop it, that she shall not find her footsteps:

And she did not know that I gave her corn, and wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold: which they bestowed upon Baal.

Wherefore now will I go take my corn and wine again in their season, and fet again my wool and my flax, which I gave her to cover her shame.

and though she run after her lovers, yet shall she not get them: she shall seek them, but not find them. Then shall she say, 'Well, I will go turn again to my first husband, for at that time was I better at ease, than now.'

Tell your brethren, that they are my people; and your sistren, that they have obtained mercy.

As for your mother, ye shall chide with her, and reprove her: for she is not my wife, neither am I her husband, unless she put away her whoredoms out of my sight, and her adultery from her breasts.

And now will I discover her foolishness, even in the sight of her lovers, and no man shall deliver her out of my hands.

I will punish her also for the days of Baal, wherein she censed him, decking him with her earrings and chains: when she followed her lovers, and forgat me, sayeth the LORD.

I will destroy her vineyards and fig trees, though she sayeth, 'Lo, here are my rewards, that my lovers have given me.' I will make it a wood, and the wild beasts shall eat it up.

Moreover, I will take away all her mirth, her holidays, her new moons, her Sabbaths, and all her solemn feasts:

There will I give her, her vineyards again; yea, and the valley of Achor also, to show her hope and comfort. Then shall she sing there as in the time of her youth, and like as in the day when she came out of the land of Egypt.

I will sow them upon earth, for a seed to mine own self, and will have mercy upon her, that was without mercy. And to them which were not my people, I will say, 'Thou art my people.' And he shall say, 'Thou art my God.'"

Then will I make a covenant with them, with the wild beasts, with the fowls of the air, and with everything that creepeth upon the earth. As for bow, sword and battle, I will destroy such out of the land, and will make them to sleep safely.

At the same time will I show myself friendly and gracious unto the heavens, sayeth the LORD: and the heavens shall help the earth,

For I will take away those names of Baal from her mouth, yea she shall never remember their names any more.

In faith also will I marry thee, unto myself, and thou shalt know the LORD.

and the earth shall help the corn, wine, and oil, and they shall help Jezreel.

"Wherefore behold: I will call her again, bring her into a wilderness, and speak friendly unto her.

Thus will I marry thee unto mine own self forevermore: yea even to myself will I marry thee, in righteousness, in equity, in loving-kindness, and mercy.

Then, sayeth the LORD, she shall say unto me, 'O my husband,' and shall call me no more Baal.