Come Home to Your Father
14 1 Return, Israel, to your Father for you have stumbled because of your sins.
2 Return to our Father with words ready; say to him: "Take away all our guilt and receive us with grace, that we may offer the fruit of our lips." 3 Assyria will not save us we will not ride on horses. We will never again say "our gods" to the work of our own hands for in you the fatherless finds a father's compassion.
The Father's Healing and Restoration
4 I will heal their waywardness I will love them freely for my anger has turned away from them. 5 I will be like the dew to Israel he will blossom like the lily and send down roots like the cedars of Lebanon. 6 His shoots will spread out his splendor will be like the olive tree, his fragrance like the cedars of Lebanon. 7 They will return and live in my shade they will flourish like grain and blossom like the vine and their renown will be like the wine of Lebanon. 8 Ephraim, what more have I to do with idols? It is I who answer and watch over you. I am like a flourishing cypress your fruit comes from me.
9 Whoever is wise, let them understand these things whoever is discerning, let them know them. For the ways of our Father are right and the righteous walk in them but the rebellious stumble in them.