Because their mother was unfaithful; she who conceived them has acted shamefully, for she said: "I will go after my lovers, the ones who give [me] my bread, my water, my wool, and my flax, my oil, and my drink."

And Yahweh said to me again, "Go, love a woman {who has a lover} and [is] committing adultery, just like the love of Yahweh [for] the children of Israel, but they [are] turning to other gods and love raisin cakes."

Hear the word of Yahweh, children of Israel, for Yahweh has an indictment against the inhabitants of the land. There is no faithfulness or loyalty, there is no knowledge of God in the land.

When their drinking has ended, they surely indulge in sexual orgies. They love lewdness more than their glory.

A wind has wrapped them in its wings, and they will be ashamed because of their altars.

With their flocks and herds they will go to seek Yahweh, but they will not find him; he has withdrawn from them.

Come, let us return to Yahweh; because [it is] he who has torn, and he will heal us; he has struck us down and will bind us up.

All of them commit adultery, like a burning oven whose baker has stopped from stirring the fire, and from kneading [the] dough until it is leavened.

Israel has spurned [the] good; [the] enemy will pursue him.

For they have gone up [to] Assyria, a wild donkey alone to itself; Ephraim has sold itself [for] lovers.

Israel has forgotten his maker and built palaces, and Judah has multiplied fortified cities; but I will send fire on his cities and it will devour her strongholds.

The inhabitants of Samaria tremble for the calf of Beth-aven. Indeed, his people will mourn for it, and his idolatrous priests will wail over it-- over its glory because it has departed from it.

Ephraim has surrounded me with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit; and Judah is still wandering with God and [is] faithful to the Holy One.

Yahweh has a quarrel with Judah and will punish Jacob according to his ways and repay him according to his deeds.

Ephraim has caused bitter provocation, and his Lord will {hold him responsible for his crimes} and pay back to him his insults.

Samaria will be guilty, because she has rebelled against her God; they will fall by [the] sword, their children will be dashed to pieces, and their pregnant women will be ripped open.

I will heal their disloyalty; I will love them freely because my anger has turned back from them.