1 An exhortation to repentance. 4 A promise of God's blessing.
1. O ISRAEL, areturn unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.
2. bTake with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, cTake away all iniquity, and 1receive us graciously: so will we render the dcalves of our lips.
3. Asshur eshall 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 fin thee the fatherless findeth mercy.
4. ¶gI will heal their backsliding, hI will love them freely: ifor mine anger is turned away from him.
5. I will be jas the dew unto Israel: he shall 2grow as the lily, and 3cast forth his roots as Lebanon.
6. His kbranches 4shall spread, and lhis beauty shall be as the olive tree, and mhis smell as Lebanon.
7. They nthat dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall orevive as the corn, and 5grow as the vine: the 6scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.
8. Ephraim shall say, pWhat have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am qlike a green fir tree. rFrom me is thy fruit found.
9. sWho is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for tthe ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors ushall fall therein.
O ISRAEL, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. 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. 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. ¶I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him. I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon. They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon. 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. 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.