Hosea 14

1O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.

2Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.footnote a

3Asshur 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.

4I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.

5I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.footnote bfootnote c

6His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon.footnote d

7They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.footnote efootnote f

8Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.

9Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.

A Call to Repentance

1Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God,for you have stumbled by your iniquity. 2Bring your confessionsand return to the LORD.Say to Him: “Take away all our iniquityand receive us graciously,that we may presentthe fruit of our lips.footnote a 3Assyria will not save us,nor will we ride on horses.We will never again say, ‘Our gods!’to the work of our own hands.For in You the fatherless find compassion.”

A Promise of God’s Blessing

4I will heal their apostasy;I will freely love them,for My anger has turned away from them. 5I will be like the dew to Israel;he will blossom like the lilyand take root like the cedars of Lebanon. 6His shoots will sprout,and his splendor will be like the olive tree,his fragrance like the cedars of Lebanon. 7They will return and dwell in his shade;they will grow grain and blossom like the vine.His renown will be like the wine of Lebanon.

8O Ephraim,footnote bwhat have I to doanymore with idols?It is I who answer and watch over him.I am like a flourishing cypress;footnote cyour fruit comes from Me.

9Whoever is wise, let him understand these things;whoever is discerning, let him know them.For the ways of the LORD are right,and the righteous walk in thembut the rebellious stumble in them.