Hosea 14

1 Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled by your iniquity.

Israel, convert to the Lord your God. For you have been ruined by your own iniquity.

2 Bring your confessions and return to the LORD. Say to Him: “Take away all our iniquity and receive us graciously, that we may present the fruit of our lips.

Take these words with you and return to the Lord. And say to him, “Remove all iniquity and accept the good. And we will repay the calves of our lips.

3 Assyria 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.”

Assur will not save us; we will not ride on horses. Neither will we say any more, ‘The works of our hands are our gods,’ for those that are in you will have mercy on the orphan.”

4 I will heal their apostasy; I will freely love them, for My anger has turned away from them.

I will heal their contrition; I will love them spontaneously. For my wrath has been turned away from them.

5 I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like the lily and take root like the cedars of Lebanon.

I will be like the dew; Israel will spring forth like the lily, and his root will spread out like that of the cedars of Lebanon.

6 His shoots will sprout, and his splendor will be like the olive tree, his fragrance like the cedars of Lebanon.

His branches will advance, and his glory will be like the olive tree, and his fragrance will be like that of the cedars of Lebanon.

7 They 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.

They will be converted, sitting in his shadow. They will live on wheat, and they will grow like a vine. His memorial will be like the wine of the cedars of Lebanon.

8 O Ephraim, what have I to do anymore with idols? It is I who answer and watch over him. I am like a flourishing cypress; your fruit comes from Me.

Ephraim will say, “What are idols to me anymore?” I will listen to him, and I will set him straight like a healthy spruce tree. Your fruit has been found by me.

9 Whoever 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 them but the rebellious stumble in them.

Who is wise and will understand this? Who has understanding and will know these things? For the ways of the Lord are straight, and the just will walk in them, but truly, the traitors will fall in them.