Hosea 14

1 Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled by your iniquity.

2 Bring your confessions and return to the LORD. Say to Him: “Take away all our iniquity and receive us graciously, that we may present the fruit of our lips.

3 Assyria will not save us, nor will we ride on horses. We will never again say, ‘Our gods!’ to the work of our own hands. For in You the fatherless find compassion.”

4 I will heal their apostasy; I will freely love them, for My anger has turned away from them.

5 I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like the lily and take root like the cedars of Lebanon.

6 His shoots will sprout, and his splendor will be like the olive tree, his fragrance like the cedars of Lebanon.

7 They will return and dwell in his shade; they will grow grain and blossom like the vine. His renown will be like the wine of Lebanon.

8 O Ephraim, what have I to do anymore with idols? It is I who answer and watch over him. I am like a flourishing cypress; your fruit comes from Me.

9 Whoever 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 walk in them but the rebellious stumble in them.

1 ¶ O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.

2 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.

3 Asshur 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.

4 ¶ I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.

5 I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.

6 His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon.

7 They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive [as] the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof [shall be] as the wine of Lebanon.

8 ¶ 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.

9 Who [is] wise, and he shall understand these [things]? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD [are] right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.

2 Turn thou, O Israel, unto the LORD thy God: for thou art fallen because of thine iniquity.

3 Take these words with you, and turn unto the LORD, and say unto him, Forgive us all our sins, and do us good; and we will offer the fair of our lips.

4 Assyria shall not help us, neither shall we ride upon horses any more, neither shall we say any more unto the works of our hands: Ye are our God: but let the fatherless find grace in thee,

5 Then will I heal their cessation, gladly will I love them; then shall mine anger turn from them.

6 I will be to Israel as the dew, and he shall blossom as the rose; and his roots shall shoot forth as Lebanon,

7 And his branches shall spread forth, and he shall be as beautiful as an olive tree; and he shall give as good a smell as Lebanon.

8 And they shall sit again under his shadow. They shall feed on grain, and flourish like a vine; his memorial shall be like the wine of Lebanon.

9 Ephraim, what shall the idols be to me? I will hearken unto him, and lead him; I will be as a green fir tree: in me shall thy fruit be found.

10 Who is wise that understandeth these things, and prudent that knoweth them? For the ways of the LORD are right, and the righteous walk therein: but the transgressors fall therein.