劝告以色列人
以色列啊,你要归向耶和华-你的神, 你因自己的罪孽跌倒了。O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.
2当归向耶和华, 用言语向他说: “求你除尽罪孽,悦纳善行, 我们就用嘴唇的祭代替牛犊献上。Take 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.
3亚述不能救我们, 我们不再骑马, 也不再对我们手所造的偶像说: ‘你是我们的神’; 孤儿在你那里得蒙怜悯。”应许以色列新生命
Asshur 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我必医治他们背道的病, 甘心爱他们, 因为我向他们所发的怒气已转消。I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.
5我必向以色列如甘露; 他必如百合花开放, 如黎巴嫩的树扎根。I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.
6他的嫩枝必延伸, 他的荣华如橄榄树, 香气如黎巴嫩的香柏树。His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon.
7曾住在他荫下的必归回,使五谷生长☛“使五谷生长”:原文另译“他们生长如园子”;七十士译本是“以五谷维生和得灌溉”。, 他们要发旺如葡萄树, 他的名气☛“名气”或译“香气”。如黎巴嫩的酒。They 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.
8以法莲说: “我与偶像有何相干?” 我应允他,顾念他: 我如青翠的松树, 你的果实从我而来。结语
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智慧人必明白这些事, 聪明人必知道这一切。 耶和华的道是正直的, 义人行在其中, 罪人却在其上跌倒。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 therein.