1 Israel, return to Yahweh your God;

for you have fallen because of your sin.

2 Take words with you, and return to Yahweh.

Tell him, "Forgive all our sins,

and accept that which is good;

so we offer bulls as we vowed of our lips.

3 Assyria can’t save us.

We won’t ride on horses;

neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, ‘Our gods!’

for in you the fatherless finds mercy."

4 "I will heal their waywardness.

I will love them freely;

for my anger is turned away from them.

5 I will be like the dew to Israel.

He will blossom like the lily,

and send down his roots like Lebanon.

6 His branches will spread,

and his beauty will be like the olive tree,

and his fragrance like Lebanon.

7 Men will dwell in his shade.

They will revive like the grain,

and blossom like the vine.

Their fragrance will be like the wine of Lebanon.

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

I answer, and will take care of him.

I am like a green cypress tree;

from me your fruit is found."

9 Who is wise, that he may understand these things?

Who is prudent, that he may know them?

For the ways of Yahweh are right,

and the righteous walk in them,

but the rebellious stumble in them.

1 O Israel, become converted unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.

2 Take with you words, and be converted unto 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 finds mercy.

4 I will heal their rebellion; I will love them freely; for my anger is turned away from them.

5 I will be as the dew unto Israel; he shall flourish as the lily and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.

6 His branches shall spread, and his glory shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon.

7 Those that shall sit under his shadow shall return; they shall be given life [as the] wheat, and they shall flourish as the vine; the scent thereof [shall be] as the wine of Lebanon.

8 Ephraim [shall then say], What have I to do any more with idols? I will hear [him] and gaze upon him; I [will be unto him] like a green fir tree; of me shall thy fruit be found.

9 Who [is] wise that he might understand this? and prudent that he might know this? for the ways of the LORD [are] right, and the just shall walk in them; but the rebellious shall fall therein.: