1 ¶ O Israel, become converted unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.

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

2 T ake with you words, and be converted unto the LORD; say unto him, Take away all iniquity and receive us graciously, so will we render the calves of our lips.

Take with you words, and turn to the Lord: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.

3 A sshur 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 finds mercy.

Asshur 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.

4 ¶ I will heal their rebellion; I will love them freely; for my anger is turned away from them.

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 flourish as the lily and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.

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

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

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

7 T hose that shall sit under his shadow shall return; they shall be given life as the wheat, and they shall flourish as the vine; the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.

They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.

8 ¶ Ephraim shall then say, What have I to do any more with idols? I will hear him and gaze upon him; I will be unto him like a green fir tree; of me shall thy fruit be found.

Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.

9 W ho is wise that he might understand this? and prudent that he might know this? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them; but the rebellious shall fall therein.

Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.