Hosea 14:4–9

I will heal their apostasy;

I will love them freely,

for my anger has turned from them.

I will be like the dew to Israel;

he shall blossom like the lily;

he shall take root like the trees of Lebanon;

his shoots shall spread out;

his beauty shall be like the olive,

and his fragrance like Lebanon.

They shall return and dwell beneath my shadow;

they shall flourish like the grain;

they shall blossom like the vine;

their fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon.

O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols?

It is I who answer and look after you.

I am like an evergreen cypress;

from me comes your fruit.

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 upright walk in them,

but transgressors stumble in them.

“I will heal their waywardness

and love them freely,

for my anger has turned away from them.

I will be like the dew to Israel;

he will blossom like a lily.

Like a cedar of Lebanon

he will send down his roots;

his young shoots will grow.

His splendor will be like an olive tree,

his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon.

People will dwell again in his shade;

they will flourish like the grain,

they will blossom like the vine—

Israel’s fame will be like the wine of Lebanon.

Ephraim, what more have I to do with idols?

I will answer him and care for him.

I am like a flourishing juniper;

your fruitfulness comes from me.”

Who is wise? Let them realize these things.

Who is discerning? Let them understand.

The ways of the Lord are right;

the righteous walk in them,

but the rebellious stumble in them.

I will heal their apostasy;

I will freely love them,

for my anger will have turned from him.

I will be like the dew to Israel;

he will blossom like the lily

and take root like the cedars of Lebanon.

His new branches will spread,

and his splendor will be like the olive tree,

his fragrance, like the forest of Lebanon.

The people will return and live beneath his shade.

They will grow grain

and blossom like the vine.

His renown will be like the wine of Lebanon.

Ephraim, why should I have anything more

to do with idols?

It is I who answer and watch over him.

I am like a flourishing pine tree;

your fruit comes from me.

Let whoever is wise understand these things,

and whoever is insightful recognize them.

For the ways of the Lord are right,

and the righteous walk in them,

but the rebellious stumble in them.

The Lord says,

“Then I will heal you of your faithlessness;

my love will know no bounds,

for my anger will be gone forever.

I will be to Israel

like a refreshing dew from heaven.

Israel will blossom like the lily;

it will send roots deep into the soil

like the cedars in Lebanon.

Its branches will spread out like beautiful olive trees,

as fragrant as the cedars of Lebanon.

My people will again live under my shade.

They will flourish like grain and blossom like grapevines.

They will be as fragrant as the wines of Lebanon.

“O Israel, stay away from idols!

I am the one who answers your prayers and cares for you.

I am like a tree that is always green;

all your fruit comes from me.”

Let those who are wise understand these things.

Let those with discernment listen carefully.

The paths of the Lord are true and right,

and righteous people live by walking in them.

But in those paths sinners stumble and fall.

I will heal their disloyalty;

I will love them freely

because my anger has turned back

from them.

I will be like the dew to Israel;

he will blossom like the lily plant,

and he will strike his roots like the trees of Lebanon.

His new plant shoots will spread out;

his splendor will be like the olive tree,

and his scent like the trees of Lebanon.

They will again dwell in my shadow;

they will grow grain

and they will blossom like the plant vine;

his fame will be like the wine of Lebanon.

O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols?

I myself have answered and looked after you.

I am like a luxuriant cypress;

your fruit comes from me.

Who is wise that he can understand these things?

Who is discerning that he knows them?

The ways of Yahweh are right,

and the righteous walk in them;

but transgressors stumble in them.

I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely:

For mine anger is turned away from him.

I will be as the dew unto Israel:

He shall grow as the lily,

And cast forth his roots as Lebanon.

His branches shall spread,

And his beauty shall be as the olive tree,

And his smell as Lebanon.

They 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.

Ephraim 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.

Who 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.