Repentance to Bring Blessing

14 a Return,g Israel, to the Lord your God.

Your sinsh have been your downfall!i

2 Take words with you

and return to the Lord.

Say to him:

“Forgivej all our sins

and receive us graciously,k

that we may offer the fruit of our lips.b l

3 Assyria cannot save us;m

we will not mount warhorses.n

We will never again say ‘Our gods’o

to what our own hands have made,p

for in you the fatherlessq find compassion.”

4 “I will healr their waywardnesss

and love them freely,t

for my anger has turned awayu from them.

5 I will be like the dewv to Israel;

he will blossom like a lily.w

Like a cedar of Lebanonx

he will send down his roots;y

6 his young shoots will grow.

His splendor will be like an olive tree,z

his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon.a

7 People will dwell again in his shade;b

they will flourish like the grain,

they will blossomc like the vine—

Israel’s fame will be like the wined of Lebanon.e

8 Ephraim, what more have Ic to do with idols?f

I will answer him and care for him.

I am like a flourishing juniper;g

your fruitfulness comes from me.”

9 Who is wise?h Let them realize these things.

Who is discerning? Let them understand.i

The ways of the Lord are right;j

the righteous walkk in them,

but the rebellious stumble in them.