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

O Israel, return to the Lord your God, For you have stumbled because of your 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 words with you, And return to the Lord. Say to Him, “Take away all iniquity; Receive us graciously, For we will offer the sacrifices 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 on horses, Nor will we say anymore to the work of our hands, ‘ You are our gods.’ For in You the fatherless finds 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 My anger has 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 like the dew to Israel; He shall grow like the lily, And lengthen his roots like Lebanon.

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

His branches shall spread; His beauty shall be like an olive tree, And his fragrance like 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.

Those who dwell under his shadow shall return; They shall be revived like grain, And grow like a vine. Their scent shall be like 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 shall say, ‘What have I to do anymore with idols?’ I have heard and observed him. I am like a green cypress tree; Your fruit is found in Me.”

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? Let him understand these things. Who is prudent? Let him know them. For the ways of the Lord are right; The righteous walk in them, But transgressors stumble in them.