Hosea 14

Israel Restored at Last

1 O Israel, *Hos. 12:6; (Joel 2:13)return to the Lord your God,

For you have stumbled because of your iniquity;

2 Take words with you,

And return to the Lord.

Say to Him,

"Take away all iniquity;

Receive us graciously,

For we will offer the *(Ps. 51:16, 17; Hos. 6:6; Heb. 13:15)sacrifices of our lips.

3 Assyria shall *Hos. 7:11; 10:13; 12:1not save us,

*(Ps. 33:17); Is. 31:1We will not ride on horses,

Nor will we say anymore to the work of our hands, ‘Youare our gods.’

*Ps. 10:14; 68:5For in You the fatherless finds mercy."

4 "I will heal their *Jer. 14:7backsliding,

I will *(Eph. 1:6)love them freely,

For My anger has turned away from him.

5 I will be like the *Job 29:19; Prov. 19:12; Is. 26:19dew to Israel;

He shall grow like the lily,

And lengthen his roots like Lebanon.

6 His branches shall spread;

*Ps. 52:8; 128:3His beauty shall be like an olive tree,

And *Gen. 27:27his fragrance like Lebanon.

7 *Dan. 4:12Those who dwell under his shadow shall return;

They shall be revived like grain,

And grow like a vine.

Their scent shallbe like the wine of Lebanon.

8 "Ephraim shallsay, ‘What have I to do anymore with idols?’

I have heard and observed him.

I am like a green cypress tree;

*(John 15:4)Your fruit is found in Me."

9 Who is wise?

Let him understand these things.

Whois prudent?

Let him know them.

For *(Ps. 111:7, 8; Prov. 10:29); Zeph. 3:5the ways of the Lordare right;

The righteous walk in them,

But transgressors stumble in them.