1 Israel, return to the Lord your God.Your sins have caused your ruin.
2 Come back to the Lordand say these words to him:“Take away all our sinand kindly receive us.Then we will give you the praise we promised you.
3 Assyria cannot save us.We will not trust in our horses.We will not say again, ‘Our gods,’to the things our hands have made.You show mercy to us, who are like orphans.”
4 The Lord says,“I will forgive them for leaving me.I will love them freely.I am not angry with them anymore.
5 I will be like the dew to Israel.It will blossom like a lily.Like the cedar trees in Lebanon,its roots will be firm.
6 The people will be like spreading branches.They will be like the beautiful olive trees.They will be like the sweet-smelling cedars in Lebanon.
7 The people of Israel will again live under my protection.They will grow like the grain.They will bloom like a vine.They will be as famous as the wine of Lebanon.
8 Israel, have nothing to do with idols.I, the Lord, am the one who answers your prayers.I am the one who watches over you.I am like a green pine tree.Your blessings come from me.”