6The couriers went throughout all Israel and Judah with the letters from the hand of the king and his princes, even according to the command of the king, saying, “O sons of Israel, return to the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, that He may return to those of you who escaped and are left from the hand of the kings of Assyria. 7“Do not be like your fathers and your brothers, who were unfaithful to the LORD God of their fathers, so that He made them a horror, as you see. 8“Now do not stiffen your neck like your fathers, but yield to the LORD and enter His sanctuary which He has consecrated forever, and serve the LORD your God, that His burning anger may turn away from you. 9“For if you return to the LORD, your brothers and your sons will find compassion before those who led them captive and will return to this land. For the LORD your God is gracious and compassionate, and will not turn His face away from you if you return to Him.”

      10So the couriers passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, and as far as Zebulun, but they laughed them to scorn and mocked them. 11Nevertheless some men of Asher, Manasseh and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem. 12The hand of God was also on Judah to give them one heart to do what the king and the princes commanded by the word of the LORD.

      19Therefore, thus says the LORD,
            “If you return, then I will restore you—
            Before Me you will stand;
            And if you extract the precious from the worthless,
            You will become My spokesman.
            They for their part may turn to you,
            But as for you, you must not turn to them.
      20“Then I will make you to this people
            A fortified wall of bronze;
            And though they fight against you,
            They will not prevail over you;
            For I am with you to save you
            And deliver you,” declares the LORD.
      21“So I will deliver you from the hand of the wicked,
            And I will redeem you from the grasp of the violent.”

      1Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God,
            For you have stumbled because of your iniquity.
      2Take words with you and return to the LORD.
            Say to Him, “Take away all iniquity
            And receive us graciously,
            That we may present the fruit of our lips.
      3“Assyria will not save us,
            We will not ride on horses;
            Nor will we say again, ‘Our god,’
            To the work of our hands;
            For in You the orphan finds mercy.”
      4I will heal their apostasy,
            I will love them freely,
            For My anger has turned away from them.
      5I will be like the dew to Israel;
            He will blossom like the lily,
            And he will take root like the cedars of Lebanon.
      6His shoots will sprout,
            And his beauty will be like the olive tree
            And his fragrance like the cedars of Lebanon.
      7Those who live in his shadow
            Will again raise grain,
            And they will blossom like the vine.
            His renown will be like the wine of Lebanon.
      8O Ephraim, what more have I to do with idols?
            It is I who answer and look after you.
            I am like a luxuriant cypress;
            From Me comes your fruit.
      9Whoever 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 will walk in them,
            But transgressors will stumble in them.