1 O Israel, return unto Jehovah thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.

O Israel, return unto Jehovah thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.

2 T ake with you words, and return unto Jehovah: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and accept that which is good: so will we render as bullocks the offering of our lips.

Take with you words, and turn to Jehovah; say unto him, Forgive all iniquity, and receive graciously; so will we render the calves of our lips.

3 A ssyria shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses; neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods; for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.

Assyria shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, our God; because in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.

4 I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely; for mine anger is turned away from him.

I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely; for mine anger is turned away from him.

5 I will be as the dew unto Israel; he shall blossom as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.

I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall blossom as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.

6 H is branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive-tree, and his smell as Lebanon.

His shoots shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive-tree, and his smell as Lebanon.

7 T hey that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the grain, and blossom as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.

They shall return and sit under his shadow; they shall revive corn, and blossom as the vine: the renown thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.

8 E phraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have answered, and will regard him: I am like a green fir-tree; from me is thy fruit found.

Ephraim, What have I to do any more with idols? (I answer, and I will observe him.) I am like a green fir-tree.—From me is thy fruit found.

9 W ho is wise, that he may understand these things? prudent, that he may know them? for the ways of Jehovah are right, and the just shall walk in them; but transgressors shall fall therein.

Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? intelligent, and he shall know them? For the ways of Jehovah are right, and the just shall walk in them; but the transgressors shall fall therein.