Hosea 14

Repentance to Bring Blessing

^*Return,^a Israel, to the Lord your God.

Your sins^b have been your downfall!^c

Take words with you

and return to the Lord.

Say to him:

“Forgive^d all our sins

and receive us graciously,^e

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

Assyria cannot save us;^g

we will not mount warhorses.^h

We will never again say ‘Our gods’ⁱ

to what our own hands have made,^j

for in you the fatherless^k find compassion.”

“I will heal^l their waywardness^m

and love them freely,ⁿ

for my anger has turned away^o from them.

I will be like the dew^p to Israel;

he will blossom like a lily.^q

Like a cedar of Lebanon^r

he will send down his roots;^s

his young shoots will grow.

His splendor will be like an olive tree,^t

his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon.^u

People will dwell again in his shade;^v

they will flourish like the grain,

they will blossom^w like the vine—

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

Ephraim, what more have I to do with idols?^z

I will answer him and care for him.

I am like a flourishing juniper;^a

your fruitfulness comes from me.”

Who is wise?^b Let them realize these things.

Who is discerning? Let them understand.^c

The ways of the Lord are right;^d

the righteous walk^e in them,

but the rebellious stumble in them.