Hosea 14 YLT
Summary: The book closes with a direct call to repentance: "Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity" (v. 1), and Hosea supplies words of confession for the people to bring, asking forgiveness and renouncing reliance on Assyria, war-horses, and idols. The LORD responds with a promise of healing and abundant love, describing Israel's restoration in agricultural imagery — blossoming like the lily, taking root like the cedars of Lebanon, flourishing like grain and the vine of Lebanon. The book ends with a closing wisdom saying inviting the discerning to understand that "the ways of the LORD are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them" (v. 9).
1Turn back, O Israel, unto Jehovah thy God, For thou hast stumbled by thine iniquity.
2Take with you words, and turn to Jehovah, Say ye unto Him: `Take away all iniquity, and give good, And we do render the fruit of our lips.
3Asshur doth not save us, on a horse we ride not, Nor do we say any more, Our God, to the work of our hands, For in Thee find mercy doth the fatherless.'
4I heal their backsliding, I love them freely, For turned back hath Mine anger from him.
5I am as dew to Israel, he flourisheth as a lily, And he striketh forth his roots as Lebanon.
6Go on do his sucklings, And his beauty is as an olive, And he hath fragrance as Lebanon.
7Return do the dwellers under his shadow, They revive as corn, and flourish as a vine, His memorial is as wine of Lebanon.
8O Ephraim, what to Me any more with idols? I--I afflicted, and I cause him to sing: `I am as a green fir-tree,' From Me is thy fruit found.
9Who is wise, and doth understand these? Prudent, and knoweth them? For upright are the ways of Jehovah, And the righteous go on in them, And the transgressors stumble therein!
Also read this chapter in: KJV, WEB, ASV, WYC, GNV, WBT, DBY