1 Return, Israel, to the Lord your God;you have stumbled because of your wickedness.
2 Prepare to speakand return to the Lord;say to the Lord,"Forgive all wickedness;and receive the good.Instead of bulls,let us offer what we can say:
3 Assyria won’t save us;we won’t ride upon horses;we will no longer say, ‘Our God,’to the work of our hands.In you the orphan finds compassion."
4 I will heal their faithlessness;I will love them freely,for my anger has turned from them.
5 I will be like the dew to Israel;he will blossom like the lily;he will cast out his roots like the forests of Lebanon.
6 His branches will spread out;his beauty will be like the olive tree,and his fragrance like that of Lebanon.
7 They will again live beneath my shadow,they will flourish like a garden;they will blossom like the vine,their fragrance will be like the wine of Lebanon.
8 Ephraim, what do idols have to do with me?It is I who answer and look after you.I am like a green cypress tree;your fruit comes from me.
9 Whoever is wise understands these things.Whoever observes carefully knows them.Truly, the Lord’s ways are right,and the righteous will walk in them,but evildoers will stumble in them.