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

O Israel, return unto the Lord 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 sin, and receive us in kindness, that we may praise You with 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 ssyria 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

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

I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.

5 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.

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

6 H is young branches will spread out and his beauty will be like the olive tree. His smell will be 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 grow like grain and like flowers of the vine. He will be known like 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 “ 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.”

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 hoever 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.

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.