An Exhortation to Repentance
(Isaiah 57:14-21;Jeremiah 3:11-25;Zechariah 1:1-6)
1O Israel,returnunto the LORDthy God;for thou hast fallenby thine iniquity.
2Takewith you words,and turnto the LORD:sayunto him, Take awayall iniquity,and receive[us] graciously:so will we renderthe calvesof our lips.
3Asshurshall not saveus; we will not rideupon horses:neither will we sayany more to the workof our hands,[Ye are] our gods:for in thee the fatherlessfindeth mercy.
A Promise of God's Blessing
4I will healtheir backsliding,I will lovethem freely:for mine angeris turned awayfrom him.
5I will be as the dewunto Israel:he shall growas the lily,and cast forthhis rootsas Lebanon.
6His branchesshall spread,and his beautyshall be as the olive tree,and his smellas Lebanon.
7They that dwellunder his shadowshall return;they shall revive[as] the corn,and growas the vine:the scentthereof [shall be] as the wineof Lebanon.
8Ephraim[shall say], What have I to do any more with idols?I have heard[him], and observedhim: I [am] like a greenfir tree.From me is thy fruitfound.
9Who [is] wise,and he shall understandthese [things]? prudent,and he shall knowthem? for the waysof the LORD[are] right,and the justshall walkin them: but the transgressorsshall falltherein.
