14:1 Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God. Your sins have been your downfall!
14:2 Take words with you and return to the LORD. Say to him: “Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips.
14:3 Assyria cannot save us; we will not mount war-horses. We will never again say ‘Our gods’ to what our own hands have made, for in you the fatherless find compassion.”
14:4 “I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them.
14:5 I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like a lily. Like a cedar of Lebanon he will send down his roots;
14:6 his young shoots will grow. His splendor will be like an olive tree, his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon.
14:7 Men will dwell again in his shade. He will flourish like the grain. He will blossom like a vine, and his fame will be like the wine from Lebanon.
14:8 O Ephraim, what more have I to do with idols? I will answer him and care for him. I am like a green pine tree; your fruitfulness comes from me.”
14:9 Who is wise? He will realize these things. Who is discerning? He will understand them. The ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.
14:1 Return, O Israel, / To Jehovah your God, / For you have fallen by your iniquity.
14:2 Take words with you, / And return to Jehovah; / Say to Him, / Forgive all iniquity, / And take us graciously; / Thus we will render our lips as bulls.
14:3 Assyria will not save us; / We will not ride upon horses. / Neither will we say again to the work of our hands, Our God! / Because in You the orphan finds compassion.
14:4 I will heal their apostasy; / I will love them freely; / For My anger has turned away from him.
14:5 I will be like the dew to Israel; / He will bud like the lily / And will send forth his roots like the trees of Lebanon.
14:6 His shoots will go forth; / And his splendor will be like that of the olive tree, / And his fragrance, like that of the trees of Lebanon.
14:7 Those who sit under his shade will return; / They will revive like grain / And will bud like the vine; / His renown will be like the wine of Lebanon.
14:8 Ephraim says, What have I yet to do with idols? / I respond and look on him. / I am like a green fir tree; / From Me your fruit is found.
14:9 Who is wise? / Then let him understand these things. / Who is intelligent? Then let him know them. / For the ways of Jehovah are right, / And the righteous will walk in them, / But the transgressors will stumble in them.