"Come now, and let us argue," says Yahweh. "Even though your sins are like scarlet, they will be white like snow; even though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.

You have not bought me spice reed with money or satisfied me [with] the fat of sacrifices. But you have burdened me with your sins; you have made me weary with your iniquities.

Neither have you heard, nor have you known, nor from {of old} has your ear been opened. For I knew you would deal treacherously, very treacherously, and you [are] called a rebel from [the] womb.

Indeed I heard Ephraim pitying themselves, 'You disciplined me, and I was disciplined, like a calf that is not trained. Bring me back and let me return, for you [are] Yahweh my God.

And I, I will remember my covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish with you {an everlasting covenant}.

"Therefore thus say to the house of Israel, 'Thus says the Lord Yahweh: "{Not for your sake} [am] I about to act, house of Israel, {but} {for my holy name}, which you defiled among the nations {to which you went}.

And he set out [and] came to his own father. But [while] he was still a long way away, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran {and embraced him} and kissed him.

Now the law came in as a side issue, in order that the trespass could increase, but where sin increased, grace was present in greater abundance,

Will heal

Return, apostate children, I will heal your backsliding. 'Look, we come to you, for you are Yahweh our God.

From afar Yahweh appeared to me, [saying], "I have loved you [with] an everlasting love. {Therefore} I have drawn you [with] loyal love.

Look, I [am] going to bring healing and health to it, and I will heal them, and I will reveal to them abundance of peace and reliability.

I will heal their disloyalty; I will love them freely because my anger has turned back from them.

Will lead

They shall not be hungry or thirsty, and heat and sun shall not strike them, for he who takes pity on them will lead them, and he will guide them to springs of water.

In grassy pastures he makes me lie down; by quiet waters he leads me.

because the Lamb [who is] in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and will lead them to springs of living waters, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

Restore

For thus says [the] high and lofty one who resides forever, and [whose] name [is] holy: "I reside [in] a high and holy place, and with [the] {contrite} and humble of spirit, to revive [the] spirit of [the] humble, and to revive [the] heart of [the] {contrite}.

And you will say on that day, "I will give you thanks, Yahweh, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, and you comforted me.

to {proclaim} [the] year of Yahweh's favor, and our God's day of vengeance, to comfort all those in mourning,

"Rejoice with Jerusalem and shout in exultation with her, all those who love her! Rejoice with her [in] joy, all those who mourn over her,

Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and with a willing spirit sustain me.

To his

But if you will not listen to it, my inner self will weep in secret places, because of {the presence of} [your] pride. And my eyes will weep bitterly, and they will melt [in] tears, because the flock of Yahweh has been taken captive.

Whoever is joined to all the living has hope. After all, even a live dog is better than a dead lion!

General references

Blessed [are] the ones who mourn, because they will be comforted.