1»Return, O Israel, to Jehovah your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity. 2»Return to Jehovah and say to him: ‘Take away all iniquity and receive us graciously, that we may present the fruit young bulls of our lips.’ (Hebrews 13:15) 3»Assyria will not save us and we will not ride on horses. We will not say again: Our god, to the work of our hands. In you the orphan finds mercy. 4»I will heal their apostasy! I will love them freely for my anger has turned away from them. 5»I will be like the dew to Israel. He will blossom like the lily and he will take root like the cedars of Lebanon. 6»His shoots will sprout and his beauty will be like the olive tree. His fragrance will be like the cedars of Lebanon. 7»Those who live in his shadow will raise grain again. They will blossom like the vine. His renown will be like the wine of Lebanon. 8»O Ephraim, what more have I to do with idols? It is I who answer and look after you. I am like a luxuriant cypress and fruit comes from me.« 9Let the wise understand these things. Let the discerning know them. For the ways of Jehovah are right. And the righteous will walk in them. But transgressors will stumble in them.