Oséias 14

New International Version

1 Return, Israel, to the Lord your God. Your sins have been your downfall!

2 Take words with you and return to the Lord. Say to him: "Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips. Or [offer our lips as sacrifices of bulls]

3 Assyria cannot save us; we will not mount warhorses. We will never again say 'Our gods' to what our own hands have made, for in you the fatherless find compassion."

4 "I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them.

5 I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like a lily. Like a cedar of Lebanon he will send down his roots;

6 his young shoots will grow. His splendor will be like an olive tree, his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon.

7 People will dwell again in his shade; they will flourish like the grain, they will blossom like the vine - Israel's fame will be like the wine of Lebanon.

8 Ephraim, what more have I Or Hebrew; Septuagint [What more has Ephraim] to do with idols? I will answer him and care for him. I am like a flourishing juniper; your fruitfulness comes from me."

9 Who is wise? Let them realize these things. Who is discerning? Let them understand. The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.