1 O Israel, return 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; Receive us graciously, For we will offer the sacrifices 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 A ssyria 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.”

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 backsliding, I will love them freely, For My anger has 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 like the dew to Israel; He shall grow like the lily, And lengthen his roots like 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; His beauty shall be like an olive tree, And his fragrance like Lebanon.

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

7 T hose 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.

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 “ 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.”

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 ho 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.

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.