Each one will say in public, "I have sinned. I have not done right, but God spared me.

He kept me from going to the world of the dead, and I am still alive."

The LORD looked down from his holy place on high, he looked down from heaven to earth.

He heard the groans of prisoners and set free those who were condemned to die.

"I am the high and holy God, who lives forever. I live in a high and holy place, but I also live with people who are humble and repentant, so that I can restore their confidence and hope.

I was angry with them because of their sin and greed, and so I punished them and abandoned them. But they were stubborn and kept on going their own way.

"I will abandon my people until they have suffered enough for their sins and come looking for me. Perhaps in their suffering they will try to find me."

The people say, "Let's return to the LORD! He has hurt us, but he will be sure to heal us; he has wounded us, but he will bandage our wounds, won't he?

In two or three days he will revive us, and we will live in his presence.

So he got up and started back to his father. "He was still a long way from home when his father saw him; his heart was filled with pity, and he ran, threw his arms around his son, and kissed him.

Yes, the time is coming when sentries will call out on the hills of Ephraim, 'Let's go up to Zion, to the LORD our God.' "

My people will return weeping, praying as I lead them back. I will guide them to streams of water, on a smooth road where they will not stumble. I am like a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my oldest son."

A noise is heard on the hilltops: it is the people of Israel crying and pleading because they have lived sinful lives and have forgotten the LORD their God.

Return, all of you who have turned away from the LORD; he will heal you and make you faithful. You say, "Yes, we are coming to the LORD because he is our God.

The LORD says, "When that time comes, the people of both Israel and Judah will come weeping, looking for me, their God.

They will ask the way to Zion and then go in that direction. They will make an eternal covenant with me and never break it.

"How can I give you up, Israel? How can I abandon you? Could I ever destroy you as I did Admah, or treat you as I did Zeboiim? My heart will not let me do it! My love for you is too strong.

I will not punish you in my anger; I will not destroy Israel again. For I am God and not a mere human being. I, the Holy One, am with you. I will not come to you in anger.

The LORD says, "I will bring my people back to me. I will love them with all my heart; no longer am I angry with them.

They will be alive with new growth, and beautiful like olive trees. They will be fragrant like the cedars of Lebanon.

The people of Israel will have nothing more to do with idols; I will answer their prayers and take care of them. Like an evergreen tree I will shelter them; I am the source of all their blessings."

I punished you, but it did no good; you would not let me correct you. Like a raging lion, you have murdered your prophets.

Surely the LORD looks for faithfulness. He struck you, but you paid no attention; he crushed you, but you refused to learn. You were stubborn and would not turn from your sins.

Happy is the person whom God corrects! Do not resent it when he rebukes you.

Save me from all my sins, and don't let fools make fun of me.

I will keep quiet, I will not say a word, for you are the one who made me suffer like this.

LORD, how happy are those you instruct, the ones to whom you teach your law!

I know that your judgments are righteous, LORD, and that you punished me because you are faithful.

My child, when the LORD corrects you, pay close attention and take it as a warning.

Why do you keep on rebelling? Do you want to be punished even more? Israel, your head is already covered with wounds, and your heart and mind are sick.

The people of Israel have not repented; even though the LORD Almighty has punished them, they have not returned to him.

I was angry with them because of their sin and greed, and so I punished them and abandoned them. But they were stubborn and kept on going their own way.

I will bring destruction on Israel and ruin on the people of Judah.

"When Israel saw how sick she was and when Judah saw her own wounds, then Israel went to Assyria to ask the great emperor for help, but he could not cure them or heal their wounds.

It has not listened to the LORD or accepted his discipline. It has not put its trust in the LORD or asked for his help.

Have you forgotten the encouraging words which God speaks to you as his children? "My child, pay attention when the Lord corrects you, and do not be discouraged when he rebukes you.

I rebuke and punish all whom I love. Be in earnest, then, and turn from your sins.

Don't be stupid like a horse or a mule, which must be controlled with a bit and bridle to make it submit."

You have to whip a horse, you have to bridle a donkey, and you have to beat a fool.

If you get more stubborn every time you are corrected, one day you will be crushed and never recover.

At the corner of every street your people collapse from weakness; they are like deer caught in a hunter's net. They have felt the force of God's anger.

"He was treated harshly, but endured it humbly; he never said a word. Like a lamb about to be slaughtered, like a sheep about to be sheared, he never said a word.

And it is best to learn this patience in our youth.

We should bow in submission, for there may still be hope.

"Israel was once like a well-trained young cow, ready and willing to thresh grain. But I decided to put a yoke on her beautiful neck and to harness her for harder work. I made Judah pull the plow and Israel pull the harrow.

LORD, heal me and I will be completely well; rescue me and I will be perfectly safe. You are the one I praise!

Bring us back, O God! Show us your mercy, and we will be saved!

Bring us back, Almighty God! Show us your mercy, and we will be saved!

Bring us back, LORD God Almighty. Show us your mercy, and we will be saved.

Bring us back, O God our savior, and stop being displeased with us!

Bring us back to you, LORD! Bring us back! Restore our ancient glory.

He will bring fathers and children together again; otherwise I would have to come and destroy your country."

He will go ahead of the Lord, strong and mighty like the prophet Elijah. He will bring fathers and children together again; he will turn disobedient people back to the way of thinking of the righteous; he will get the Lord's people ready for him."

And so God chose his Servant and sent him to you first, to bless you by making every one of you turn away from your wicked ways."

because God is always at work in you to make you willing and able to obey his own purpose.

Do not be deceived, my dear friends!

By his own will he brought us into being through the word of truth, so that we should have first place among all his creatures.

Return, all of you who have turned away from the LORD; he will heal you and make you faithful. You say, "Yes, we are coming to the LORD because he is our God.

We should lie down in shame and let our disgrace cover us. We and our ancestors have always sinned against the LORD our God; we have never obeyed his commands."

You are our father. Our ancestors Abraham and Jacob do not acknowledge us, but you, LORD, are our father, the one who has always rescued us.