Take with you words
    and return to the Lord;
say to him,
    “Take away all iniquity;
accept (A)what is good,
    and we will pay with bulls
    (B)the vows[a] of our lips.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Hosea 14:2 Septuagint, Syriac pay the fruit

Take words with you
    and return to the Lord.
Say to him:
    “Forgive(A) all our sins
and receive us graciously,(B)
    that we may offer the fruit of our lips.[a](C)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Hosea 14:2 Or offer our lips as sacrifices of bulls

Come Back! Return to Your God!

14 1-3 O Israel, come back! Return to your God!
    You’re down but you’re not out.
Prepare your confession
    and come back to God.
Pray to him, “Take away our sin,
    accept our confession.
Receive as restitution
    our repentant prayers.
Assyria won’t save us;
    horses won’t get us where we want to go.
We’ll never again say ‘our god’
    to something we’ve made or made up.
You’re our last hope. Is it not true
    that in you the orphan finds mercy?”

* * *

Read full chapter