*1 Return, Israel, to the Lord your God.

Your sins have been your downfall!

2 Take words with you

and return to the Lord.

Say to him:

"Forgive all our sins

and receive us graciously,

that we may offer the fruit of our lips.*

3 Assyria cannot save us;

we will not mount warhorses.

We will never again say ‘Our gods’

to what our own hands have made,

for in you the fatherless find compassion."

4 "I will heal their waywardness

and love them freely,

for my anger has turned away from them.

5 I will be like the dew to Israel;

he will blossom like a lily.

Like a cedar of Lebanon

he will send down his roots;

6 his young shoots will grow.

His splendor will be like an olive tree,

his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon.

7 People will dwell again in his shade;

they will flourish like the grain,

they will blossom like the vine—

Israel’s fame will be like the wine of Lebanon.

8 Ephraim, what more have I* to do with idols?

I will answer him and care for him.

I am like a flourishing juniper;

your fruitfulness comes from me."

9 Who is wise? Let them realize these things.

Who is discerning? Let them understand.

The ways of the Lord are right;

the righteous walk in them,

but the rebellious stumble in them.