Israel’s Future Blessing

14 [a](A)Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God,
For you have stumbled [b]because of your (B)iniquity.
Take words with you and return to the Lord.
Say to Him, “(C)Take away all iniquity
And [c]receive us graciously,
That we may (D)present [d]the fruit of our lips.
“Assyria will not save us,
We will (E)not ride on horses;
Nor will we say again, ‘(F)Our god,’
To the (G)work of our hands;
For in (H)You the [e]orphan finds mercy.”

I will (I)heal their apostasy,
I will (J)love them freely,
For My anger has (K)turned away from them.
I will be like the (L)dew to Israel;
He will blossom like the (M)lily,
And he will [f]take root like the cedars of (N)Lebanon.
His shoots will [g]sprout,
And his [h]beauty will be like the (O)olive tree
And his fragrance like the cedars of (P)Lebanon.
Those who (Q)live in his shadow
Will [i]again raise (R)grain,
And they will blossom like the vine.
His renown will be like the wine of Lebanon.

O Ephraim, what more have I to do with (S)idols?
It is I who answer and look after [j]you.
I am like a luxuriant (T)cypress;
From (U)Me comes your fruit.

(V)Whoever is wise, let him understand these things;
Whoever is discerning, let him know them.
For the (W)ways of the Lord are right,
And the (X)righteous will walk in them,
But (Y)transgressors will stumble in them.

Footnotes

  1. Hosea 14:1 Ch 14:2 in Heb
  2. Hosea 14:1 Or in
  3. Hosea 14:2 Or accept that which is good
  4. Hosea 14:2 So with ancient versions; M.T. our lips as bulls
  5. Hosea 14:3 Or fatherless
  6. Hosea 14:5 Lit strike his roots
  7. Hosea 14:6 Lit go
  8. Hosea 14:6 Or splendor
  9. Hosea 14:7 Or return, they will raise grain
  10. Hosea 14:8 Lit him