An Exhortation to Repentance
(Isaiah 57:14-21; Jeremiah 3:11-25; Zechariah 1:1-6)
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.
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.
A Promise of God's Blessing
4I 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.
6His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon.
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.
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.
King James Bible
Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
A Call to Repentance
(Jeremiah 3:11–25; Zechariah 1:1–6)
1 Israel, return to Yahweh your God; for you have fallen because of your sin.
2 Take words with you, and return to Yahweh. Tell him, “Forgive all our sins, and accept that which is good: so we offer our lips like bulls.
3 Assyria can’t save us. We won’t ride on horses; neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, ‘Our gods!’ for in you the fatherless finds mercy.”
A Promise of God’s Blessing
4 “I will heal their waywardness. I will love them freely; for my anger is turned away from him.
5 I will be like the dew to Israel. He will blossom like the lily, and send down his roots like Lebanon.
6 His branches will spread, and his beauty will be like the olive tree, and his fragrance like Lebanon.
7 Men will dwell in his shade. They will revive like the grain, and blossom like the vine. Their fragrance will be like the wine of Lebanon.
8 Ephraim, what have I to do any more with idols? I answer, and will take care of him. I am like a green fir tree; from me your fruit is found.”
9 Who is wise, that he may understand these things? Who is prudent, that he may know them? For the ways of Yahweh are right, and the righteous walk in them; But the rebellious stumble in them.
A Call to Repentance
(Jeremiah 3:11–25; Zechariah 1:1–6)
1 Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God,
for you have stumbled by your iniquity.
2 Bring your confessions
and return to the LORD.
Say to Him: “Take away all our iniquity
and receive us graciously,
that we may present
the fruit of our lips. a
3 Assyria will not save us,
nor will we ride on horses.
We will never again say, ‘Our gods!’
to the work of our own hands.
For in You the fatherless find compassion.”
A Promise of God’s Blessing
4 I will heal their apostasy;
I will freely love them,
for My anger has turned away from them.
5 I will be like the dew to Israel;
he will blossom like the lily
and take root like the cedars of Lebanon.
6 His shoots will sprout,
and his splendor will be like the olive tree,
his fragrance like the cedars of Lebanon.
7 They will return and dwell in his shade;
they will grow grain and blossom like the vine.
His renown will be like the wine of Lebanon.
8 O Ephraim, b what have I to do
anymore with idols?
It is I who answer and watch over him.
I am like a flourishing cypress; c
your fruit comes from Me.
9 Whoever is wise, let him understand these things;
whoever is discerning, let him know them.
For the ways of the LORD are right,
and the righteous walk in them
but the rebellious stumble in them.
Footnotes:
2 a LXX and Syriac; Hebrew that we may present our lips as sacrificial bulls
8 b That is, the northern kingdom of Israel
8 c Or pine or juniper or fir
An Exhortation to Repentance
(Isaiah 57:14-21; Jeremiah 3:11-25; Zechariah 1:1-6)
1Turn back, O Israel, unto Jehovah thy God, For thou hast stumbled by thine iniquity.
2Take with you words, and turn to Jehovah, Say ye unto Him: 'Take away all iniquity, and give good, And we do render the fruit of our lips.
3Asshur doth not save us, on a horse we ride not, Nor do we say any more, Our God, to the work of our hands, For in Thee find mercy doth the fatherless.'
A Promise of God's Blessing
4I heal their backsliding, I love them freely, For turned back hath Mine anger from him.
5I am as dew to Israel, he flourisheth as a lily, And he striketh forth his roots as Lebanon.
6Go on do his sucklings, And his beauty is as an olive, And he hath fragrance as Lebanon.
7Return do the dwellers under his shadow, They revive as corn, and flourish as a vine, His memorial is as wine of Lebanon.
8O Ephraim, what to Me any more with idols? I -- I afflicted, and I cause him to sing: 'I am as a green fir-tree,' From Me is thy fruit found.
9Who is wise, and doth understand these? Prudent, and knoweth them? For upright are the ways of Jehovah, And the righteous go on in them, And the transgressors stumble therein!
