1 Israel, return to the Lord your God,because your sins have made you fall.
2 Come back to the Lordand say these words to him:“Take away all our sinand kindly receive us,and we will keep the promises we made to you.
3 Assyria cannot save us,nor will we trust in our horses.We will not say again, ‘Our gods,’to the things our hands have made.You show mercy to orphans.”
4 The Lord says,“I will forgive them for leaving meand will love them freely,because I am not angry with them anymore.
5 I will be like the dew to Israel,and they will blossom like a lily.Like the cedar trees in Lebanon,their roots will be firm.
6 They will be like spreading branches,like the beautiful olive treesand the sweet-smelling cedars in Lebanon.