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

O Israel, return to the Lord your God, For you have stumbled because of your 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 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.

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

Assyria 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.”

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 My anger has 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 like the dew to Israel; He shall grow like the lily, And lengthen his roots like 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; His beauty shall be like an olive tree, And his fragrance like 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.

Those 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.

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 anymore with idols?’ I have heard and observed him. I am like a green cypress tree; Your fruit is found in Me.”

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? 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.