Hosea 14

Chapter 14

Healing for the Repentant

1  tReturn, O Israel, to the LORD your God,
for your sins have brought you down.2 Bring your confessions, and return to the LORD.
Say to him,
“Forgive all our sins and graciously receive us,
so that we may offer you our praises.t3 Assyria cannot save us,
nor can our warhorses.
Never again will we say to the idols we have made,
‘You are our gods.’
No, in you alone
do the orphans find mercy.”4 The LORD says,
“Then I will heal you of your faithlessness;
my love will know no bounds,
for my anger will be gone forever.5 I will be to Israel
like a refreshing dew from heaven.
Israel will blossom like the lily;
it will send roots deep into the soil
like the cedars in Lebanon.6 Its branches will spread out like beautiful olive trees,
as fragrant as the cedars of Lebanon.7 My people will again live under my shade.
They will flourish like grain and blossom like grapevines.
They will be as fragrant as the wines of Lebanon.8 “O Israel,t stay away from idols!
I am the one who answers your prayers and cares for you.
I am like a tree that is always green;
all your fruit comes from me.”9 Let those who are wise understand these things.
Let those with discernment listen carefully.
The paths of the LORD are true and right,
and righteous people live by walking in them.
But in those paths sinners stumble and fall.

HOSEA 14

Turn Back to the [Lord]

1 Israel, return! Come back
to the [Lord], your God.
Sin has made you fall.

2 Return to the [Lord] and say,
“Please forgive our sins.
Accept our good sacrifices
of praise instead of bulls.t

3 Assyria can't save us,
and chariots can't help.
So we will no longer worship
the idols we have made.
Our [Lord], you show mercy
to orphans.”

The [Lord] Promises //To Forgive

4 Israel, you have rejected me,
but my anger is gone;
I will heal you and love you
without limit.

5 I will be like the dew—
then you will blossom like lilies
and have roots like a tree.t

6 Your branches will spread
with the beauty
of an olive tree
and with the aroma
of Lebanon Forest.

7 You will rest in my shade,
and your grain will grow.
You will blossom
like a vineyard
and be famous as the wine
from Lebanon.

8 Israel, give up your idols!
I will answer your prayers
and take care of you.t
I am that glorious tree,
the source of your fruit.t

9 If you are wise, you will know
and understand what I mean.
I am the [Lord], and I lead you
along the right path.
If you obey me,
we will walk together,
but if you are wicked,
you will stumble.