1: O Israel, return to the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thy iniquity. 2: Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say to him, Take away all iniquity, and receive [us] graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips. 3: Ashur 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. 4: I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for my anger is turned away from him. 5: I will be as the dew to Israel: he shall grow as the lily and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. 6: His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive-tree, and his smell as Lebanon. 7: They that dwell under his shade shall return; they shall revive [as] the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent of it [shall be] as the wine of Lebanon. 8: 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. 9: 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 in them.
