Faithless

But my brothers are as faithless as wadis, as seasonal streams that overflow,

They turned back and were faithless like their fathers, twisted like a faulty bow.

I look on the faithless with loathing because they do not keep Your word.

The integrity of the upright guides them, but the perversity of the faithless destroys them.

The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the faithless are trapped by their own desires.

From the fruit of his lips a man enjoys good things, but the desire of the faithless is violence.

Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the faithless is difficult.

The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the faithless for the upright.

The LORD’s eyes keep watch over knowledge, but He frustrates the words of the faithless.

Like a robber she lies in wait and multiplies the faithless among men.

Like a broken tooth or a foot out of joint is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble.

Now in the days of King Josiah, the LORD said to me, “Have you seen what faithless Israel has done? She has gone up on every high hill and under every green tree to prostitute herself there.

She saw that because faithless Israel had committed adultery, I gave her a certificate of divorce and sent her away. Yet that unfaithful sister Judah had no fear and prostituted herself as well.

And the LORD said to me, “Faithless Israel has shown herself more righteous than unfaithful Judah.

Go, proclaim this message toward the north: ‘Return, O faithless Israel,’ declares the LORD. ‘I will no longer look on you with anger, for I am merciful,’ declares the LORD. ‘I will not be angry forever.

“Return, O faithless children,” declares the LORD, “for I am your master, and I will take you—one from a city and two from a family—and bring you to Zion.

“Return, O faithless children, and I will heal your faithlessness.” “Here we are. We come to You, for You are the LORD our God.

If only I had a traveler’s lodge in the wilderness, I would abandon my people and depart from them, for they are all adulterers, a crowd of faithless people.

Righteous are You, O LORD, when I plead before You. Yet about Your judgments I wish to contend with You: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease?

How long will you wander, O faithless daughter? For the LORD has created a new thing in the land—a woman will shelter a man.”

Why do you boast of your valleys—your valleys so fruitful, O faithless daughter? You trust in your riches and say, ‘Who can come against me?’

Your eyes are too pure to look upon evil, and You cannot tolerate wrongdoing. So why do You tolerate the faithless? Why are You silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?

Her prophets are reckless, faithless men. Her priests profane the sanctuary; they do violence to the law.

They are senseless, faithless, heartless, merciless.

…if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.