“’I will visit upon her the days of Baalim:  she went after her lovers, and forgat me, saith the Lord.  I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her.  And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving-kindness, and in mercies.  I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness:  and thou shalt know the Lord.’  Hosea 2:13.

“‘O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thy help.’  ’Return unto the Lord thy God, for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.  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.  Ashur 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.’  Hosea 13:14.

“’I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely; for mine anger is turned away from him.  I will be as the dew unto Israel; he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.  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.’  Hosea 14.

“’O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, because we have sinned against thee.  To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against him.’  Daniel 9.

“’He shall feed his flock like a shepherd:  he shall gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom; and shall gently lead those that are with young.  Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the Lord, and my judgment is passed over from my God?  Hast thou not known, hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.  He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.  Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall; but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint.’  Isa. 40:11, etc.

“’Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers?  Did not the Lord, he against whom we have sinned?  For they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient to his law.  Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle:  and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart.  But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not; for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.  When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee:  when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burnt; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.  For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour.  Since thou wast precious in my sight thou hast been honorable, and I have loved thee.’  Isa. 42:24, etc.