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Yahweh’s Anger Turns Away from Israel

14 [a](A)Return, O Israel, to Yahweh your God,
For you have stumbled in your (B)iniquity.
Take words with you and return to Yahweh.
Say to Him, “(C)Forgive all iniquity
And [b]take what is good,
That we may (D)pay in full [c]the fruit of our lips.
Assyria will not save us;
We will (E)not ride on horses,
Nor will we say again, ‘(F)Our god,’
To the (G)work of our hands;
For in (H)You the [d]orphan finds compassion.”

I will (I)heal their turning away from Me;
I will (J)love them freely,
For My anger has (K)turned away from them.
I will be like the (L)dew to Israel;
He will flourish like the (M)lily,
And he will [e]take root like the cedars of (N)Lebanon.
His shoots will go forth,
And his splendor will be like the (O)olive tree
And his fragrance like the cedars of (P)Lebanon.
Those who (Q)live in his shadow
Will [f]again raise (R)grain,
And they will flourish like the vine.
His name of remembrance will be like the wine of Lebanon.

O Ephraim, what more have I to do with (S)idols?
It is I who answer and look after [g]you.
I am like a luxuriant (T)cypress;
From (U)Me [h]comes your fruit.

(V)Whoever is wise, so let him discern these things;
Whoever is discerning, let him know them.
For the (W)ways of Yahweh are right,
And the (X)righteous will walk in them,
But (Y)transgressors will stumble in them.

Footnotes

  1. Hosea 14:1 Ch 14:2 in Heb
  2. Hosea 14:2 Or accept that which is good
  3. Hosea 14:2 As in ancient versions; M.T. our lips as bulls
  4. Hosea 14:3 Or fatherless
  5. Hosea 14:5 Lit strike his roots
  6. Hosea 14:7 Or return, they will raise grain
  7. Hosea 14:8 Lit him
  8. Hosea 14:8 Lit is found

A Call to Repentance

14 [a]“Return, Israel, to the Lord your God,
    for you have fallen due to your own iniquity.
Bring a prepared speech with you
    as you return to the Lord. Say to him:

‘Take away all our[b] iniquity,
    and accept what is good.
Then we will present the fruit[c] of our lips.
Assyria won’t save us;
    we won’t be riding on horses,
Nor will we be saying anymore to the work of our hands,
    “You are[d] our God.”
        Indeed, in you the orphan finds mercy.’

“I will correct their apostasy,
    loving them freely,
        since my anger will have turned away from them.[e]
I will be like the dew to Israel;
    Israel[f] will blossom like a lily,
        growing roots like the cedars of[g] Lebanon.
Israel’s[h] branches will spread out,
    and its beauty will be like an olive tree,
        with its scent like that of Lebanon.
Those who live under its protection[i] will surely return.
    Their grain will flourish;
they will blossom like a vine,
    and Israel’s[j] scent will be like wine from Lebanon.

“Ephraim, what have I in common with idols?
    I have listened and will pay attention to him.
I am like a flourishing cypress;
    in me will your fruit be found.”

Concluding Counsel

Whoever is wise, let him understand these things.
    Whoever is discerning, let him know them.
For the ways of the Lord are right:
    the righteous follow his example,
        but the rebellious stumble in them.

Footnotes

  1. Hosea 14:1 This v. is 14:2 in MT, and so throughout the chapter.
  2. Hosea 14:2 The Heb. lacks our
  3. Hosea 14:2 So LXX and DSS. MT reads bulls
  4. Hosea 14:3 The Heb. lacks You are
  5. Hosea 14:4 Lit. him
  6. Hosea 14:5 Lit. he
  7. Hosea 14:5 The Heb. lacks the cedars of
  8. Hosea 14:6 Lit. His
  9. Hosea 14:7 Lit. shadow
  10. Hosea 14:7 Lit. His