2 Return to the Lord, and let this prayer be your offering to him: “Forgive all our sins and accept our prayer, and we will praise you as we have promised.
3 Assyria can never save us, and war horses cannot protect us. We will never again say to our idols that they are our God. O Lord, you show mercy to those who have no one else to turn to.”
4 The Lord says,“I will bring my people back to me.I will love them with all my heart;no longer am I angry with them.
5 I will be to the people of Israellike rain in a dry land.They will blossom like flowers;they will be firmly rootedlike the trees of Lebanon.
6 They will be alive with new growth,and beautiful like olive trees.They will be fragrantlike the cedars of Lebanon.
7 Once again they will live under my protection.They will grow cornand be fruitful like a vineyard.They will be as famous as the wine of Lebanon.
8 The people of Israel will have nothing more to do with idols;I will answer their prayers and take care of them;Like an evergreen tree I will shelter them;I am the source of all their blessings.”