Hosea 14:1–9
14 a Return,g Israel, to the Lord your God.
Your sinsh have been your downfall!i
and return to the Lord.
Say to him:
“Forgivej all our sins
and receive us graciously,k
that we may offer the fruit of our lips.b l
3 Assyria cannot save us;m
we will not mount warhorses.n
We will never again say ‘Our gods’o
to what our own hands have made,p
for in you the fatherlessq find compassion.”
4 “I will healr their waywardnesss
and love them freely,t
for my anger has turned awayu from them.
5 I will be like the dewv to Israel;
he will blossom like a lily.w
Like a cedar of Lebanonx
he will send down his roots;y
His splendor will be like an olive tree,z
his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon.a
7 People will dwell again in his shade;b
they will flourish like the grain,
they will blossomc like the vine—
Israel’s fame will be like the wined of Lebanon.e
8 Ephraim, what more have Ic to do with idols?f
I will answer him and care for him.
I am like a flourishing juniper;g
your fruitfulness comes from me.”
9 Who is wise?h Let them realize these things.
Who is discerning? Let them understand.i
The ways of the Lord are right;j
the righteous walkk in them,
but the rebellious stumble in them.