Those who repent will be blessed

1You people of Israel, return to Yahweh our God. You are being punished because of the sins which you have committed.

2So now return to Yahweh and say [MTY] this to him: “Forgive us for all the sins that we have committed, and kindly accept ◄us/our sacrifices► in order that we may thank/praise you [IDM].

3We admit that Assyria will not save us, and our war horses will not save us, either. We will never again say, ‘You are our gods’ to the idols that we [SYN] have made.
You are the one who acts mercifully to orphans.”

4Yahweh says, “If they say that to me, I will forgive them for having ◄turned away from/abandoned► me, and I will love them with all my inner being,
because I [PRS] will have stopped being angry with them.

5I will be to the people of Israel like dew that refreshes the soil. When I do that, they will become as delightful as [MET] lilies are when they are blooming. No one will be able to conquer them;
they will be as unmovable as [SIM] the roots of cedar trees.

6Their good influence will spread like [MET] the branches of a tree. They will be like [SIM] beautiful olive trees, and they will be as delightful as [SIM] the aroma of the cedar trees in Lebanon.

7People will come to them to be protected like people are protected from the hot sun by being [MET] in the shade of a tree. They will ◄flourish/be strong► like [SIM] grain that grows well. They will be successful like a vineyard in which grapes grow abundantly. They will become as famous/well-known as [SIM] the wines from Lebanon.

8You people of Israel, do not [RHQ] have anything more to do with idols; if you get rid of your idols, I will answer your prayers and take care of you. I am like [MET] a strong/green pine tree, and your blessings come from me.”

9Those who are wise will understand the things about which I have written. Those who think well will pay careful attention to them. The things that Yahweh wants us to do [MET] are right; righteous people will conduct their lives adhering to them.
But those who rebel against Yahweh will be ruined.