1 R eturn, O Israel, to the Lord your God, For you have stumbled because of your iniquity.

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

2 T ake words with you and return to the Lord. Say to Him, “ Take away all iniquity And receive us graciously, That we may present the fruit of our lips.

Take 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.

3 “ Assyria will not save us, We will not ride on horses; Nor will we say again, ‘ Our god,’ To the work of our hands; For in You the orphan finds mercy.”

Assyria 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 apostasy, I will love them freely, For My anger has 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 like the dew to Israel; He will blossom like the lily, And he will take root like the cedars of 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 shoots will sprout, And his beauty will be like the olive tree And his fragrance like the cedars of Lebanon.

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

7 T hose who live in his shadow Will again raise grain, And they will blossom like the vine. His renown will be like the wine of Lebanon.

They 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.

8 O Ephraim, what more have I to do with idols? It is I who answer and look after you. I am like a luxuriant cypress; From Me comes your fruit.

Ephraim 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.

9 W hoever is wise, let him understand these things; Whoever is discerning, let him know them. For the ways of the Lord are right, And the righteous will walk in them, But transgressors will stumble in them.

Who 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.