^20 (A)Is Ephraim my dear son?
    ^(B)Is he my darling child?
For as often as I speak against him,
    I do remember him still.
^(C)Therefore my heart^[a] yearns for him;
    I will surely have mercy on him,
declares the Lord.

⁷ let the wicked forsake his way,
    and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him,
    and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

^18 (A)Who is a God like you, ^(B)pardoning iniquity
    and passing over transgression
    ^(C)for the remnant of his inheritance?
^(D)He does not retain his anger forever,
    because he delights in steadfast love.
¹⁹ He will ^(E)again have compassion on us;
    ^(F)he will tread our iniquities underfoot.
^(G)You will cast all our^[a] sins
    into the depths of the sea.

^15 (A)Look down from heaven and see,
    ^(B)from your holy and beautiful^[a] habitation.
Where are ^(C)your zeal and your might?
    The stirring of your inner parts and your compassion
    are held back from me.

¹³ As ^(A)a father shows compassion to his children,
    so the Lord shows compassion ^(B)to those who fear him.