Hosea 14

1O Israel, return unto Jehovah thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.

1O Israel, return to the LORD your God, because your sins have caused you to stumble and fall.

2Take with you words, and return unto Jehovah: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and accept that which is good: so will we render as bullocks the offering of our lips.

2Bring your words of repentance with you and return to the LORD. Say to him, 'Forgive all our sins and graciously receive us, so that we may offer you the praise of our lips as a sacrifice.'

3Assyria 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.

3Assyria cannot save us, and we will no longer rely on war horses. We will never again say to things we made with our own hands, 'You are our gods,' because in you the orphan finds mercy.

4I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely; for mine anger is turned away from him.

4The LORD says, 'I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, because I am no longer angry with them.'

5I will be as the dew unto Israel; he shall blossom as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.

5I will be like the refreshing dew to Israel. He will blossom like a lily and send down his roots deep like the cedar trees of Lebanon.

6His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive-tree, and his smell as Lebanon.

6His branches will spread out; his beauty will be like an olive tree and his fragrance like the forests of Lebanon.

7They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the grain, and blossom as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.

7People will again live in his shade. They will grow like grain and bloom like a grapevine; they will be as famous as the wine from Lebanon.

8Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have answered, and will regard him: I am like a green fir-tree; from me is thy fruit found.

8Ephraim, what more do I have to do with idols? It is I who answer you and care for you. I am like a green pine tree; all your fruitfulness comes from me.

9Who is wise, that he may understand these things? prudent, that he may know them? for the ways of Jehovah are right, and the just shall walk in them; but transgressors shall fall therein.

9Who is wise enough to understand these things? Who is discerning enough to know them? The ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in them, but rebellious people stumble in them.