¹ Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God,
For you have stumbled because of your iniquity. ² Take 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. 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.” ⁴ I will heal their apostasy,
I will love them freely,
For My anger has turned away from them. 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. ⁶ His shoots will sprout,
And his beauty will be like the olive tree
And his fragrance like the cedars of Lebanon. ⁷ Those 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. 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. ⁹ Whoever 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.