Hosea 14

1 O Israel, returne vnto the Lord thy God: for thou hast fallen by thine iniquitie.

Israel, return to Yahweh your God, for you have fallen because of your iniquity.

2 Take vnto you words, and turne to the Lord, and say vnto him, Take away all iniquitie, and receiue vs graciously: so wil we render the calues of our lippes.

Take with you words and return to Yahweh. Say to him, “Take away all our iniquity and accept what is good, so that we may offer to you the fruit of our lips.

3 Asshur shall not saue vs, neither wil we ride vpon horses, neither will we say any more to the worke of our handes, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherlesse findeth mercie.

Assyria will not save us; we will not ride on horses to war. Neither will we say anymore to the work of our hands, 'You are our gods,' for in you the fatherless person finds compassion.”

4 I wil heale their rebellion: I wil loue them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.

“I will heal their turning away; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned away from him.

5 I will be as the dewe vnto Israel: he shall grow as the lilie and fasten his rootes, as the trees of Lebanon.

I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like the lily and take root like a cedar in Lebanon.

6 His branches shall spread, and his beautie shalbe as the oliue tree, and his smell as Lebanon.

His branches will spread out; his beauty will be like the olive trees, and his fragrance like the cedars in Lebanon.

7 They that dwel vnder his shadow, shall returne: they shall reuiue as the corne, and florish as the vine: the sent thereof shalbe as the wine of Lebanon.

The people who live in his shade will return; they will revive like grain and blossom like vines. His fame will be like the wine of Lebanon.

8 Ephraim shall say, What haue I to doe any more with idoles? I haue heard him, and looked vpon him: I am like a greene firre tree: vpon me is thy fruite founde.

Ephraim, what more have I to do with idols? I will answer him and care for him. I am like a cypress whose leaves are always green; from me comes your fruit.”

9 Who is wise, and he shall vnderstande these things? and prudent, and he shall knowe them? for the wayes of the Lord are righteous, and the iust shall walke in them: but the wicked shall fall therein.

Who is wise that he may understand these things? Who understands these things so that he may know them? For the ways of Yahweh are right, and the righteous will walk in them, but the rebellious will stumble in them.