1 Return, O Israel, to Jehovah thy God; For thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. 2 Take with you words, And return to Jehovah, saying, “Forgive all our iniquity, and receive us graciously, And we will render to thee the sacrifices of our lips! 3 Assyria shall not help us; We will not ride on horses; And no more will we say to the work of our hands, Ye are our Gods! For from thee the fatherless obtaineth mercy.” 4 “I will heal their rebellion; I will love them freely; For my anger is turned away from them. 5 I will be as the dew to Israel; He shall blossom as the lily, And strike his roots like Lebanon. 6 His sprouts shall spread forth, And his beauty shall be as the olive-tree, And his fragrance as Lebanon. 7 They that dwell under his shadow Shall revive as the corn; They shall shoot forth as the vine; Their name shall be like the wine of Lebanon. 8 Ephraim shall say, What have I more to do with idols? I will hear him; I will care for him; I will be like a green cypress-tree; From me shall thy fruit be found.” 9 Who is wise, that he may understand these things, Prudent, that he may know them? For the ways of Jehovah are right, And the righteous walk in them; But in them transgressors stumble.