“‘Return,^(B) faithless^(C) Israel,’ declares the Lord,
    ‘I will frown on you no longer,
for I am faithful,’^(D) declares the Lord,
    ‘I will not be angry^(E) forever.
¹³ Only acknowledge^(F) your guilt—
    you have rebelled against the Lord your God,
you have scattered your favors to foreign gods^(G)
    under every spreading tree,^(H)
    and have not obeyed^(I) me,’”
declares the Lord.

¹⁸ Who is a God^(A) like you,
    who pardons sin^(B) and forgives^(C) the transgression
    of the remnant^(D) of his inheritance?^(E)
You do not stay angry^(F) forever
    but delight to show mercy.^(G)
19 You will again have compassion on us;
    you will tread our sins underfoot
    and hurl all our iniquities^(H) into the depths of the sea.^(I)
20 You will be faithful to Jacob,
    and show love to Abraham,^(J)
as you pledged on oath to our ancestors^(K)
    in days long ago.^(L)

²⁰ Is not Ephraim my dear son,
    the child^(A) in whom I delight?
Though I often speak against him,
    I still remember^(B) him.
Therefore my heart yearns for him;
    I have great compassion^(C) for him,”
declares the Lord.

²² “Turn^(A) to me and be saved,^(B)
    all you ends of the earth;^(C)
    for I am God, and there is no other.^(D)

⁵⁴ He has helped his servant Israel,
    remembering to be merciful^(A)
55 to Abraham and his descendants^(B) forever,
    just as he promised our ancestors.”

⁷ But as for me, I watch^(A) in hope^(B) for the Lord,
    I wait for God my Savior;
    my God will hear^(C) me.

⁸ “How can I give you up,^(A) Ephraim?^(B)
    How can I hand you over, Israel?
How can I treat you like Admah?
    How can I make you like Zeboyim?^(C)
My heart is changed within me;
    all my compassion^(D) is aroused.^(E)