Hosea 14

¹  Israel, return to Yahweh your God;
    for you have fallen because of your sin.
² Take words with you, and return to Yahweh.
    Tell him, “Forgive all our sins,
    and accept that which is good:
    so we offer our lips like bulls.
³ Assyria can’t save us.
    We won’t ride on horses;
    neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, ‘Our gods!’
    for in you the fatherless finds mercy.”

⁴ “I will heal their waywardness.
    I will love them freely;
    for my anger is turned away from him.
⁵ I will be like the dew to Israel.
    He will blossom like the lily,
    and send down his roots like Lebanon.
⁶ His branches will spread,
    and his beauty will be like the olive tree,
    and his fragrance like Lebanon.
⁷ Men will dwell in his shade.
    They will revive like the grain,
    and blossom like the vine.
    Their fragrance will be like the wine of Lebanon.
⁸ Ephraim, what have I to do any more with idols?
    I answer, and will take care of him.
    I am like a green cypress tree;
    from me your fruit is found.”

⁹ Who is wise, that he may understand these things?
    Who is prudent, that he may know them?
    For the ways of Yahweh are right,
    and the righteous walk in them;
    But the rebellious stumble in them.

Hosea 13   ■   Joel 1