1O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. 2Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.14.2 receive…: or, give good 3Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.
4¶ I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him. 5I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.14.5 grow: or, blossom14.5 cast…: Heb. strike 6His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon.14.6 spread: Heb. go 7They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.14.7 grow: or, blossom14.7 scent: or, memorial
8Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found. 9Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.
悔改帶來祝福
1以色列啊，
你被自己的罪惡絆倒了，
歸向你的上帝耶和華吧！
2你要歸向耶和華，
向祂懺悔說：
「求你赦免我們的罪，
施恩悅納我們，
好叫我們以讚美為祭獻給你！
3我們不再向亞述求救，
不再依靠戰馬，
也不再稱自己所造的神像為我們的上帝。
耶和華啊，只有在你那裡，
孤兒才能得到憐憫。」
4耶和華說：
「我要醫治他們的叛道，
心甘情願地愛他們，
因為我的怒氣已經轉離他們。
5我要像甘露一樣滋潤以色列，
使他綻放如百合花，
扎根如黎巴嫩的香柏樹。
6他要長出嫩枝，
他要像橄欖樹一樣榮美，
如黎巴嫩的香柏樹一般芳香。
7他要歸回，住在我的蔭下。
他要茂盛如五穀，
榮美如葡萄樹，
聲名遠揚如黎巴嫩的美酒。
8「以法蓮啊，你要遠離偶像。
我應允你的禱告，看顧你。
我像一棵青翠的松樹，
你的果實都來自於我。」
9讓那些智者明白這一切，
讓那些明哲瞭解這一切。
因為耶和華的道是正道，
義人要行走在上面，
罪人卻在上面跌倒。
