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The Prophet Hosea

Berean Study Bible :: World English Bible Catholic

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- Chapter 14 -

(Jeremiah 3:11–25; Zechariah 1:1–6)
1
Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled by your iniquity.
2
Bring your confessions and return to the LORD. Say to Him: “Take away all our iniquity and receive us graciously, that we may present the fruit of our lips.(a)
3
Assyria will not save us, nor will we ride on horses. We will never again say, ‘Our gods!’ to the work of our own hands. For in You the fatherless find compassion.”

A Promise of God’s Blessing

4
I will heal their apostasy; I will freely love them, for My anger has turned away from them.
5
I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like the lily and take root like the cedars of Lebanon.
6
His shoots will sprout, and his splendor will be like the olive tree, his fragrance like the cedars of Lebanon.
7
They will return and dwell in his shade; they will grow grain and blossom like the vine. His renown will be like the wine of Lebanon.
8
O Ephraim,(b) what have I to do anymore with idols? It is I who answer and watch over him. I am like a flourishing cypress;(c) your fruit comes from Me.
9
Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them. For the ways of the LORD are right, and the righteous walk in them but the rebellious stumble in them.

Footnotes

(a)14:2 LXX and Syriac; Hebrew that we may present our lips as sacrificial bulls
(b)14:8 That is, the northern kingdom of Israel
(c)14:8 Or pine or juniper or fir
(Jeremiah 3:11–25; Zechariah 1:1–6)
1
Israel, return to the LORD your God; for you have fallen because of your sin.
2
Take words with you, and return to the LORD. Tell him, “Forgive all our sins, and accept that which is good; so we offer bulls as we vowed of our lips.
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.”

A Promise of God’s Blessing

4
I will heal their waywardness. I will love them freely; for my anger is turned away from them.
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 the LORD are right, and the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.