Add parallel Print Page Options

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”

14 Israel, return to Yahweh your God;
    for you have fallen because of your sin.
Take words with you, and return to Yahweh.
    Tell him, “Forgive all our sins,
    and accept that which is good:
    so we offer our lips like bulls.
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.”

“I will heal their waywardness.
    I will love them freely;
    for my anger is turned away from him.
I will be like the dew to Israel.
    He will blossom like the lily,
    and send down his roots like Lebanon.
His branches will spread,
    and his beauty will be like the olive tree,
    and his fragrance like 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.
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.”

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.