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14 O Israel, return unto Jehovah thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. Take with you words, and return unto Jehovah: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and [a]accept that which is good: so will we render as bullocks the offering of our lips. Assyria 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.

I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely; for mine anger is turned away from him. I will be as the dew unto Israel; he shall blossom as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive-tree, and his smell as Lebanon. They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the grain, and blossom as the vine: [b]the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon. [c]Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have answered, and will regard him: I am like a green fir-tree; from me is thy fruit found. Who is wise, that he may understand these things? prudent, that he may know them? for the ways of Jehovah are right, and the just shall walk in them; but transgressors shall fall therein.

Footnotes

  1. Hosea 14:2 Or, receive us graciously
  2. Hosea 14:7 Or, his memorial
  3. Hosea 14:8 Or, O Ephraim, what etc.

Return to Yahweh

14 Return to Yahweh your God, O Israel,
    for you have stumbled because of your sin.
Take words with you,
    and return to Yahweh.
Say to him,
    “Take away all guilt;
accept good, and we will offer
    the fruit[a] of our lips.
Assyria will not save us;
    we will not ride on horses,[b]
and we will say no more, “Our God,”
    to the work of our hands
    because in you the fatherless child finds mercy.
I will heal their disloyalty;[c]
    I will love them freely
    because my anger has turned back
        from them.[d]
I will be like the dew to Israel;
    he will blossom like the lily plant,
and he will strike his roots like the trees of Lebanon.
    His new plant shoots will spread out;
his splendor will be like the olive tree,
    and his scent like the trees of Lebanon.
They will again dwell[e] in my[f] shadow;
    they will grow grain
and they will blossom like the plant vine;
    his fame will be like the wine of Lebanon.
O Ephraim, what have I to do[g] with idols?
    I myself have answered and looked after you.[h]
I am like a luxuriant cypress;
    your fruit[i] comes from me.
Who is wise that he can understand these things?
    Who is discerning that he knows them?
The ways of Yahweh are right,
    and the righteous walk in them;
        but transgressors stumble in them.

Footnotes

  1. Hosea 14:2 Hebrew uncertain
  2. Hosea 14:3 Hebrew “horse”
  3. Hosea 14:4 Or “backsliding”
  4. Hosea 14:4 Hebrew “him”
  5. Hosea 14:7 Literally “They shall return, they shall dwell”
  6. Hosea 14:7 Hebrew “his”
  7. Hosea 14:8 Literally “what for me”
  8. Hosea 14:8 Hebrew “him”
  9. Hosea 14:8 Or “your faithfulness”