Study Desk

Israel, return to Yahweh your God,^(a) for you have stumbled in your sin.^(b)

Take words of repentance with you^(c) and return to the Lord . Say to Him: "Forgive all our sin and accept what is good, so that we may repay You with praise^[a] from our^[b] lips.^(d)

Assyria will not save us,^(e) we will not ride on horses,^(f) and we will no longer proclaim, ‘Our gods!'^(g) to the work of our hands.^(h) For the fatherless receives compassion in You."⁽ⁱ⁾

I will heal their apostasy;^(j) I will freely love them,^(k) for My anger will have turned from him.^(l)

I will be like the dew to Israel;^(m) he will blossom like the lily⁽ⁿ⁾ and take root like the cedars of Lebanon.^(o)

His new branches will spread, and his splendor will be like the olive tree,^(p) his fragrance, like the forest of Lebanon.^(q)

The people will return and live beneath his shade.^(r) They will grow grain^(s) and blossom like the vine. His renown will be like the wine of Lebanon.

Ephraim, why should I^[c] have anything more to do with idols?^(t) It is I who answer and watch over him. I am like a flourishing pine tree;^(u) your fruit comes from Me.^(v)

Let whoever is wise^(w) understand these things, and whoever is insightful recognize them. For the ways of the Lord are right,^(x) and the righteous walk in them,^(y) but the rebellious stumble in them.^(z)