The Prophet Hosea

⭑ Catholic Public Domain Version 2009 ⭑

⮜ Back | Contents | Next ⮞

- Chapter 14 -

(Jeremiah 3:11–25; Zechariah 1:1–6)

Let Samaria perish, because she has urged her God towards bitterness. Let them perish by the sword, let their little ones be thrown down, and let their pregnant women be cut in two.(a)

Israel, convert to the Lord your God. For you have been ruined by your own iniquity.

Take these words with you and return to the Lord. And say to him, “Remove all iniquity and accept the good. And we will repay the calves of our lips.

A Promise of God’s Blessing

Assur will not save us; we will not ride on horses. Neither will we say any more, ‘The works of our hands are our gods,’ for those that are in you will have mercy on the orphan.”

I will heal their contrition; I will love them spontaneously. For my wrath has been turned away from them.

I will be like the dew; Israel will spring forth like the lily, and his root will spread out like that of the cedars of Lebanon.

His branches will advance, and his glory will be like the olive tree, and his fragrance will be like that of the cedars of Lebanon.

They will be converted, sitting in his shadow. They will live on wheat, and they will grow like a vine. His memorial will be like the wine of the cedars of Lebanon.

Ephraim will say, “What are idols to me anymore?” I will listen to him, and I will set him straight like a healthy spruce tree. Your fruit has been found by me.(b)

Who is wise and will understand this? Who has understanding and will know these things? For the ways of the Lord are straight, and the just will walk in them, but truly, the traitors will fall in them.(c)

Footnotes

(a)14:1 Perish, because she has stirred up her God to bitterness:It is not a curse or imprecation, but a prophecy of what should come to pass.(Challoner)

(b)14:9 The word ‘dirigam’ means to guide or to direct, but since this is a comparison with a healthy spruce tree (a tree that grows straight and tall), the translation of ‘dirigam’ takes this into account and so uses the phrase ‘set him straight,’ in place of direct or guide.(Conte)

(c)14:10 The ‘prævaricatores’ are those who are supposed to be on your side in a dispute, but have secretly helped your opponent. In other words, it means traitors.(Conte)