Hosea 14

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

O Israel, return unto Jehovah thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.

2 Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say to him, Take away all iniquity, and receive [us] graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.

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.

3 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.

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.

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

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 to Israel: he shall grow as the lily and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.

I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall blossom 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.

His shoots shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive-tree, and his smell as Lebanon.

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

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.

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.

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.

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 in them.

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.