| Holman Christian Standard Bible | English Standard Version |
| 1Israel, return to Yahweh your God, for you have stumbled in your sin. | 1Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity. |
| 2Take words of repentance with you and return to the LORD. Say to Him: "Forgive all our sin and accept what is good, so that we may repay You with praise from our lips. | 2Take with you words and return to the LORD; say to him, “Take away all iniquity; accept what is good, and we will pay with bulls the vows of our lips. |
| 3Assyria will not save us, we will not ride on horses, and we will no longer proclaim, 'Our gods!' to the work of our hands. For the fatherless receives compassion in You." | 3Assyria shall not save us; we will not ride on horses; and we will say no more, ‘Our God,’ to the work of our hands. In you the orphan finds mercy.” |
| 4I will heal their apostasy; I will freely love them, for My anger will have turned from him. | 4I will heal their apostasy; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them. |
| 5I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like the lily and take root like the cedars of Lebanon. | 5I will be like the dew to Israel; he shall blossom like the lily; he shall take root like the trees of Lebanon; |
| 6His new branches will spread, and his splendor will be like the olive tree, his fragrance, like the forest of Lebanon. | 6his shoots shall spread out; his beauty shall be like the olive, and his fragrance like Lebanon. |
| 7The people will return and live beneath his shade. They will grow grain and blossom like the vine. His renown will be like the wine of Lebanon. | 7They shall return and dwell beneath my shadow; they shall flourish like the grain; they shall blossom like the vine; their fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon. |
| 8Ephraim, why should I have anything more to do with idols? It is I who answer and watch over him. I am like a flourishing pine tree; your fruit comes from Me. | 8O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols? It is I who answer and look after you. I am like an evergreen cypress; from me comes your fruit. |
| 9Let whoever is wise understand these things, and whoever is insightful recognize them. For the ways of the LORD are right, and the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them. | 9Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the LORD are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them. |
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