Add parallel Print Page Options

Israel Returns to God

14 Israel, return to the Lord your God,
    because your sins have made you ·fall [stumble].
·Come back [Return] to the Lord
    and ·say these words to him [L take words with you]:
“Take away all our sin
    and ·kindly receive us [accept our prayers],
·and we will keep the promises we made to you [L so that we may offer the sacrifices of our lips; or so that we may offer our lips as sacrificial bulls].
Assyria cannot save us,
    nor will we ·trust in our [mount and ride] horses.
We will not say again, ‘Our gods,’
    to the things our hands have made.
You show ·mercy [compassion] to ·orphans [the fatherless].”

Read full chapter

Repentance to Bring Blessing

14 [a]Return,(A) Israel, to the Lord your God.
    Your sins(B) have been your downfall!(C)
Take words with you
    and return to the Lord.
Say to him:
    “Forgive(D) all our sins
and receive us graciously,(E)
    that we may offer the fruit of our lips.[b](F)
Assyria cannot save us;(G)
    we will not mount warhorses.(H)
We will never again say ‘Our gods’(I)
    to what our own hands have made,(J)
    for in you the fatherless(K) find compassion.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Hosea 14:1 In Hebrew texts 14:1-9 is numbered 14:2-10.
  2. Hosea 14:2 Or offer our lips as sacrifices of bulls