Hosea 14
1 O Israel, return unto Jehovah thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.
Israel, return to Yahweh your God; for you have fallen because of your sin.
2 Take with you words, and turn to Jehovah; say unto him, Forgive all iniquity, and receive [us] graciously; so will we render the calves of our lips.
Take words with you, and return to Yahweh. Tell him, “Forgive all our sins, and accept that which is good; so we offer bulls as we vowed of our lips.
3 Assyria shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, [Thou art] our God; because in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.
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 backsliding, I will love them freely; for mine anger is turned away from him.
“I will heal their waywardness. I will love them freely; for my anger is turned away from them.
5 I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall blossom as the lily, and cast forth his roots as 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 shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive-tree, and his smell as Lebanon.
His branches will spread, and his beauty will be like the olive tree, and his fragrance like Lebanon.
7 They shall return and sit under his shadow; they shall revive [as] corn, and blossom as the vine: the renown thereof shall be as 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 Ephraim [shall say], What have I to do any more with idols? (I answer [him], and I will observe him.) I am like a green fir-tree. — From me is thy fruit found.
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 Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? intelligent, and he shall know them? For the ways of Jehovah are right, and the just shall walk in them; but the transgressors shall fall therein.
Who is wise, that he may understand these things? Who is prudent, that he may know them? For the ways of Yahweh are right, and the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.
