1 Turn back, O Israel, unto Jehovah thy God, For thou hast stumbled by thine iniquity. 2 Take with you words, and turn to Jehovah, Say ye unto Him: 'Take away all iniquity, and give good, And we do render the fruit of our lips. 3 Asshur doth not save us, on a horse we ride not, Nor do we say any more, Our God, to the work of our hands, For in Thee find mercy doth the fatherless.' 4 I heal their backsliding, I love them freely, For turned back hath Mine anger from him. 5 I am as dew to Israel, he flourisheth as a lily, And he striketh forth his roots as Lebanon. 6 Go on do his sucklings, And his beauty is as an olive, And he hath fragrance as Lebanon. 7 Return do the dwellers under his shadow, They revive [as] corn, and flourish as a vine, His memorial [is] as wine of Lebanon. 8 O Ephraim, what to Me any more with idols? I -- I afflicted, and I cause him to sing: 'I [am] as a green fir-tree,' From Me is thy fruit found. 9 Who [is] wise, and doth understand these? Prudent, and knoweth them? For upright are the ways of Jehovah, And the righteous go on in them, And the transgressors stumble therein! | |