A Plea to Repent

14 Israel, return to * Yahweh your God, b

for you have stumbled in your sin. c

2 Take words of repentance with you d

and return to the Lord.

Say to Him: “Forgive all our sin

and accept what is good,

so that we may repay You

with praise e from our f lips. g

3 Assyria will not save us, h

we will not ride on horses, i

and we will no longer proclaim, ‘Our gods!’ j

to the work of our hands. k

For the fatherless receives compassion in You.” l

A Promise of Restoration

4 I will heal their apostasy; m

I will freely love them, n

for My anger will have turned from him. o

5 I will be like the dew to Israel; p

he will blossom like the lily q

and take root like the cedars of Lebanon. r

6 His new branches will spread,

and his splendor will be like the olive tree, s

his fragrance, like the forest of Lebanon. t

7 The people will return and live beneath his shade. u

They will grow grain v

and blossom like the vine.

His renown will be like the wine of Lebanon.

8 Ephraim, why should I w have anything more

to do with idols? x

It is I who answer and watch over him.

I am like a flourishing pine tree; y

your fruit comes from Me. z

9 Let whoever is wise a understand these things,

and whoever is insightful recognize them.

For the ways of the Lord are right, b

and the righteous walk in them, c

but the rebellious stumble in them. d