1 O Israel, return unto the Lord thy God;

For thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.

2 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 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 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 grow 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 corn, and grow as the vine:

The sent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.

8 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 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.