Hosea 14

1 O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God;

for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.

2 Take with you words, and turn to the LORD:

say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously:

so will we render the calves of our lips.

3 Asshur 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.

4 I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely:

for mine anger is turned away from him.

5 I will be as the dew unto Israel:

he shall grow as the lily,

and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.

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

7 They that dwell under his shadow shall return;

they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine:

the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.

8 Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols?

I have heard him, and observed him:

I am like a green fir tree.

From me is thy fruit found.

9 Who is wise, and he shall understand these things?

prudent, and he shall know them?

for the ways of the LORD are right,

and the just shall walk in them:

but the transgressors shall fall therein.

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