1O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.2Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.3Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.4I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.5I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.6His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon.7They 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.8Ephraim 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.9Who 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.
Hosea 14
English Standard Version
A Plea to Return to the Lord
1Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity. (Ho 3:5; Ho 6:1; Ho 12:6; Ho 13:9)2Take with you words and return to the Lord; say to him, “Take away all iniquity; accept what is good, and we will pay with bulls the vows[1] of our lips. (Ps 50:13; Ps 69:30; Ho 5:15; Heb 13:15)3Assyria shall not save us; we will not ride on horses; and we will say no more, ‘Our God,’ to the work of our hands. In you the orphan finds mercy.” (Ps 10:14; Isa 30:16; Isa 31:1; Ho 5:13; Ho 14:8)4I will heal their apostasy; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them. (Jer 3:22; Ho 6:1; Ho 11:1)5I will be like the dew to Israel; he shall blossom like the lily; he shall take root like the trees of Lebanon; (Ps 92:12; Isa 27:6; Isa 35:2; Ho 6:3)6his shoots shall spread out; his beauty shall be like the olive, and his fragrance like Lebanon. (Ps 52:8)7They shall return and dwell beneath my[2] shadow; they shall flourish like the grain; they shall blossom like the vine; their fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon. (Ps 91:1)8O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols? It is I who answer and look after you.[3] I am like an evergreen cypress; from me comes your fruit. (Isa 30:22; Ho 2:8; Ho 2:23; Ho 14:3; Joh 15:4)9Whoever 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. (Ps 107:43; Pr 10:29; Jer 9:12; Da 12:10; Lu 2:34; Joh 8:47; Joh 18:37; 2Co 2:16)