Hosea 14

1 O Israel, return to Jehovah thy God, for thou have fallen by thine iniquity.

Return, O Israel, to Jehovah thy God; For thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.

2 Take with you words, and return to Jehovah. Say to him, Take away all iniquity, and accept that which is good. So we will render as bullocks the offering of our lips.

Take with you words, And return to Jehovah, saying, “Forgive all our iniquity, and receive us graciously, And we will render to thee the sacrifices of our lips!

3 Assyria shall not save us. We will not ride upon horses, nor will we say any more to the work of our hands, Our gods. For in thee the fatherless finds mercy.

Assyria shall not help us; We will not ride on horses; And no more will we say to the work of our hands, Ye are our Gods! For from thee the fatherless obtaineth mercy.”

4 I will heal their backsliding. I will love them freely. For my anger is turned away from him.

“I will heal their rebellion; I will love them freely; For my anger is turned away from them.

5 I will be as the dew to Israel. He shall blossom as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.

I will be as the dew to Israel; He shall blossom as the lily, And strike his roots like Lebanon.

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

His sprouts shall spread forth, And his beauty shall be as the olive-tree, And his fragrance as Lebanon.

7 Those who dwell under his shadow shall return. They shall revive as the grain, and blossom as the vine. The scent of it shall be as the wine of Lebanon.

They that dwell under his shadow Shall revive as the corn; They shall shoot forth as the vine; Their name shall be like the wine of Lebanon.

8 Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have answered, and will regard him. I am like a green fir tree. From me thy fruit is found.

Ephraim shall say, What have I more to do with idols? I will hear him; I will care for him; I will be like a green cypress-tree; From me shall thy fruit be found.”

9 Who is wise, that he may understand these things, prudent, that he may know them? For the ways of Jehovah are right, and the just shall walk in them. But transgressors shall fall therein.

Who is wise, that he may understand these things, Prudent, that he may know them? For the ways of Jehovah are right, And the righteous walk in them; But in them transgressors stumble.