1 O Israel, return unto Jehovah thy God ; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.
2 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 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 mine anger is turned away from him.
5 I will be as the dew unto Israel ; he shall blossom as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.
6 His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive-tree, and his smell as Lebanon.
7 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 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 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.