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14 Israel, return to Yahweh your God;
    for you have fallen because of your sin.
Take words with you, and return to Yahweh.
    Tell him, “Forgive all our sins,
    and accept that which is good:
    so we offer our lips like bulls.
Assyria can’t save us.
    We won’t ride on horses;
    neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, ‘Our gods!’
    for in you the fatherless finds mercy.”

“I will heal their waywardness.
    I will love them freely;
    for my anger is turned away from him.
I will be like the dew to Israel.
    He will blossom like the lily,
    and send down his roots like Lebanon.
His branches will spread,
    and his beauty will be like the olive tree,
    and his fragrance like Lebanon.
Men will dwell in his shade.
    They will revive like the grain,
    and blossom like the vine.
    Their fragrance will be like the wine of Lebanon.
Ephraim, what have I to do any more with idols?
    I answer, and will take care of him.
    I am like a green cypress tree;
    from me your fruit is found.”

Who is wise, that he may understand these things?
    Who is prudent, that he may know them?
    For the ways of Yahweh are right,
    and the righteous walk in them;
    But the rebellious stumble in them.

14 O Israel, return to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled and fallen, [visited by calamity] due to your iniquity.

Take with you words and return to the Lord. Say to Him, Take away all our iniquity; accept what is good and receive us graciously; so will we render [our thanks] as bullocks [to be sacrificed] and pay the confession of our lips.(A)

Assyria shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses, neither will we say any more to the work of our hands [idols], You are our gods. For in You [O Lord] the fatherless find love, pity, and mercy.

I will heal their faithlessness; I will love them freely, for My anger is turned away from [Israel].

I will be like the dew and the night mist to Israel; he shall grow and blossom like the lily and cast forth his roots like [the sturdy evergreens of] Lebanon.

His suckers and shoots shall spread, and his beauty shall be like the olive tree and his fragrance like [the cedars and aromatic shrubs of] Lebanon.

They that dwell under his shade shall return; they shall revive like the grain and blossom like the vine; the scent of it shall be like the wine of Lebanon.

Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have answered [him] and will regard and watch over him; I am like a green fir or cypress tree; with Me is the fruit found [which is to nourish you].

Who is wise, that he may understand these things? Prudent, that he may know them? For the ways of the Lord are right and the [uncompromisingly] just shall walk in them, but transgressors shall stumble and fall in them.(B)