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[1]O Israel, return to the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thy iniquity.
[2]Take 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.
[3]Ashur 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 my anger is turned away from him.
[5]I will be as the dew to Israel: he shall grow as the lily and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.
[6]His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive-tree, and his smell as Lebanon.
[7]They 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.
[8]Ephraim 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.
[9]Who 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.
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