Hosea 14
1 Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled by your iniquity.
Israel, return to the LORD your God; for you have fallen because of your sin.
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.
Take words with you, and return to the LORD. Tell him, “Forgive all our sins, and accept that which is good; so we offer bulls as we vowed 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.”
Assyria can’t save us. We won’t ride on horses; neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, ‘Our gods!’ for in you the fatherless finds mercy.”
4 I will heal their apostasy; I will freely love them, for My anger has turned away from them.
“I will heal their waywardness. I will love them freely; for my anger is 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.
I will be like the dew to Israel. He will blossom like the lily, and send down his roots like Lebanon.
6 His shoots will sprout, and his splendor will be like the olive tree, his fragrance like the cedars of Lebanon.
His branches will spread, and his beauty will be like the olive tree, and his fragrance like 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.
Men will dwell in his shade. They will revive like the grain, and blossom like the vine. Their fragrance 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.
Ephraim, what have I to do any more with idols? I answer, and will take care of him. I am like a green cypress tree; from me your fruit is found.”
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.
Who is wise, that he may understand these things? Who is prudent, that he may know them? For the ways of the LORD are right, and the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.
