An Exhortation to Repentance

(Isaiah 57:14-21; Jeremiah 3:11-25; Zechariah 1:1-6)

1O Israel, return to the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thy iniquity.

2Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say to him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.

3Ashur 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.

A Promise of God's Blessing

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 grow 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.

7They that dwell under his shade shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent of it shall be as the wine of Lebanon.

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 in them.