14
1 Return, Israel, to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity.
2 Take words with you and return to the LORD.
Say to him, “Take away all iniquity and accept what is good, and we will offer our lips in place of bulls.
3 Assyria will not save us;
we will not ride on horses.
We will no longer say, ‘Our God,’ to the work of our hands, for in you the orphan finds mercy.”
4 “I will heal their faithlessness;
I will love them freely, for my anger has turned away from him.
5 I will be like dew to Israel.
He will blossom like a lily and strike roots like Lebanon.
6 His shoots will spread;
his splendor will be like an olive tree, and his fragrance like Lebanon.
7 Those who dwell in his shade will return.
They will grow grain again and blossom like a vine;
his renown will be like the wine of Lebanon.
8 Ephraim, what have I to do anymore with idols?
I answer him and watch over him.
I am like a flourishing cypress;
your fruit comes from me.”
9 Who is wise?
Let him understand these things.
Who is discerning?
Let him know them.
For the ways of the LORD are straight;
the righteous walk in them, but rebels stumble in them.