Hosea 14:1–9

Repentance to Bring Blessing

14^aReturn,^g Israel, to the Lord your God.

Your sins^h have been your downfall!ⁱ

²Take words with you

and return to the Lord.

Say to him:

“Forgive^j all our sins

and receive us graciously,^k

that we may offer the fruit of our lips.^bl

³Assyria 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 fatherless^q find compassion.”

⁴“I will heal^r their waywardness^s

and love them freely,^t

for my anger has turned away^u from them.

⁵I will be like the dew^v to Israel;

he will blossom like a lily.^w

Like a cedar of Lebanon^x

he will send down his roots;^y

⁶his young shoots will grow.

His splendor will be like an olive tree,^z

his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon.^a

⁷People will dwell again in his shade;^b

they will flourish like the grain,

they will blossom^c like the vine—

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

⁸Ephraim, what more have I^c 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.”

⁹Who 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 walk^k in them,

but the rebellious stumble in them.