Hosea 14:2-9

New International Version

²Take 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)
³Assyria cannot save us;^(D)
    we will not mount warhorses.^(E)
We will never again say ‘Our gods’^(F)
    to what our own hands have made,^(G)
    for in you the fatherless^(H) find compassion.”

⁴“I will heal^(I) their waywardness^(J)
    and love them freely,^(K)
    for my anger has turned away^(L) from them.
⁵I will be like the dew^(M) to Israel;
    he will blossom like a lily.^(N)
Like a cedar of Lebanon^(O)
    he will send down his roots;^(P)
⁶    his young shoots will grow.
His splendor will be like an olive tree,^(Q)
    his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon.^(R)
⁷People will dwell again in his shade;^(S)
    they will flourish like the grain,
they will blossom^(T) like the vine—
    Israel’s fame will be like the wine^(U) of Lebanon.^(V)
⁸Ephraim, what more have I^[b] to do with idols?^(W)
    I will answer him and care for him.
I am like a flourishing juniper;^(X)
    your fruitfulness comes from me.”

⁹Who is wise?^(Y) Let them realize these things.
    Who is discerning? Let them understand.^(Z)
The ways of the Lord are right;^(AA)
    the righteous walk^(AB) in them,
    but the rebellious stumble in them.

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Footnotes

Hosea 14:2 Or offer our lips as sacrifices of bulls
Hosea 14:8 Or Hebrew; Septuagint What more has Ephraim

Matthew 10:16-23

New International Version

¹⁶“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.^(A) Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.^(B) ¹⁷Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils^(C) and be flogged in the synagogues.^(D) ¹⁸On my account you will be brought before governors and kings^(E) as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. ¹⁹But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it.^(F) At that time you will be given what to say, ²⁰for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father^(G) speaking through you.

²¹“Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents^(H) and have them put to death.^(I) ²²You will be hated by everyone because of me,^(J) but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.^(K) ²³When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.^(L)