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

Return to the Lord your God, O Israel, for you have fallen because of your sin.

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 words with you and return to the Lord. Say to Him, “Take away all sin, and receive us in kindness, that we may praise You with 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.

Assyria will not save us. We will not ride on horses. And we will never say again, ‘Our god,’ to what we have made with our hands. For those who have no father find loving-kindness in You.” New Life for Israel

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

“I will bring My people back to Me. I will not hold back My love from them, for I am no longer angry with them.

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 to Israel like the water on the grass in the early morning. He will grow like the lily, and have roots like the cedars of Lebanon.

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

His young branches will spread out and his beauty will be like the olive tree. His smell will be like the cedars of 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.

Those who live in his shadow will grow like grain and like flowers of the vine. He will be known like 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.

“O Ephraim, what have I to do with false gods? It is I Who answer and take care of you. I am like a green cypress tree. Your fruit comes from Me.”

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.

Whoever is wise, let him understand these things and know them. For the ways of the Lord are right, and those who are right and good will follow them, but sinners will not follow them.