1An exhortation to repentance. 4A promise of God's blessing.
1O ISRAEL, 1return unto the Lord thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.
21Take with you words, and turn to the Lord: say unto him, 2Take away all iniquity, and areceive us graciously: so will we render the 3calves of our lips.
3Asshur 1shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for 2in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.
4¶ 1I will heal their backsliding, 2I will love them freely: 3for mine anger is turned away from him.
5I will be 1as the dew unto Israel: he shall agrow as the lily, and bcast forth his roots as Lebanon.
6His 1branches ashall spread, and 2his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and 3his smell as Lebanon.
7They 1that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall 2revive as the corn, and agrow as the vine: the bscent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.
8Ephraim shall say, 1What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am2like a green fir tree. 3From me is thy fruit found.
91Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for 2the ways of the Lordare right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors 3shall fall therein.