A Call to Repentance
(Jeremiah 3:11–25; Zechariah 1:1–6)

1So return, O Israel, to YHWH your God!

For you have stumbled by your iniquity.

2Take with you⁺ words,

and return to YHWH.

Say to Him: “Lift away all iniquity,

and receive what is good,

and we offer

the fruit of our lips.†

3Assyria cannot save us;

we will not ride on horses,

and we will not say anymore, ‘Our gods’

to the work of our hands.

For in You the fatherless find compassion.”

A Promise of God’s Blessing

4I will heal their backsliding,

I will love them willingly;

for My anger has turned back from him.

5I will be like the dew to Israel;

he will blossom like the lily,

and he will strike forth his roots like Lebanon.

6His branches will go forth,

and his beauty will be like the olive tree,

and the fragrance unto him like Lebanon.

7Those dwelling in his shade will return;

they will revive like the grain and blossom like the vine;

his memorial is as wine of Lebanon.

8O Ephraim,† what is unto me

anymore with idols?

I have answered and have watched over him.

I am luxuriant like a cypress;†

your fruit is found in Me.

9Who is wise? Let him understand these things.

Who is understanding? Let him know them.

For straight are the ways of YHWH,

and the righteous walk in them,

and transgressors stumble in them.