Hosea 14

1 Israel, return to the LORD your God; for you have fallen because of your sin.

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

2 Take words with you, and return to the LORD. Tell him, “Forgive all our sins, and accept that which is good; so we offer bulls as we vowed of our lips.

Take with you words, and turn to Jehovah; say unto him, Forgive all iniquity, and receive [us] graciously; so will we render the calves of our lips.

3 Assyria cannot save us. We will not ride on horses; neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, ‘Our gods!’ for in you the fatherless finds mercy.”

Assyria shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, [Thou art] our God; because in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.

4 “I will heal their waywardness. I will love them freely; for my anger is turned away from them.

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

5 I will be like the dew to Israel. He will blossom like the lily, and send down his roots like Lebanon.

I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall blossom as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.

6 His branches will spread, and his beauty will be like the olive tree, and his fragrance like Lebanon.

His shoots shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive-tree, and his smell as Lebanon.

7 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.

They shall return and sit under his shadow; they shall revive [as] corn, and blossom as the vine: the renown thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.

8 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.”

Ephraim [shall say], What have I to do any more with idols? (I answer [him], and I will observe him.) I am like a green fir-tree. — From me is thy fruit found.

9 Who is wise, that he may understand these things? Who is prudent, that he may 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 he shall understand these things? intelligent, and he shall know them? For the ways of Jehovah are right, and the just shall walk in them; but the transgressors shall fall therein.