1O Israel, return to Yehovah your God; for you have fallen by your iniquity. 2Take with you words, and return to Yehovah: say to him, Take away all iniquity, and accept that which is good: so we will render as bullocks the offering of our lips. 3Assyria shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses; nor will we say any more to the work of our hands, You are our gods; for in you the fatherless finds mercy. 4I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely; for my anger is turned away from him. 5I will be as the dew to Israel; he shall blossom as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. 6His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive-tree, and his smell as Lebanon. 7Those who dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the grain, and blossom as the vine: its scent shall be as the wine of Lebanon. 8Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have answered, and will regard him: I am like a green fir-tree; from me is your fruit found. 9Who is wise, that he may understand these things? prudent, that he may know them? for the ways of Yehovah are right, and the just shall walk in them; but transgressors shall fall in them.