Hosea 14

1 Return, O Israel [the people of God, His chosen nation], to the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] your God [Elohim, the supreme Ruler], for you have stumbled [fallen, been defeated] by your iniquity [sin, rebellion against God]. word study 2 Bring your confessions [words of repentance, prayers of sorrow] and return [turn back, come home] to the LORD [Yehovah, the one true God]. Say to Him: “Take away [forgive, remove] all our iniquity [moral evil, sin] and receive us graciously [with kindness, accept us], that we may present [offer, give] the fruit of our lips [praise, thanksgiving]. word study 3 Assyria [a powerful nation] will not save us, nor will we ride on horses [rely on human might, trust in earthly power]. We will never again say, ‘Our gods [idols, false deities]!’ to the work of our own hands [man-made idols, crafted images]. For in You [the Lord, our faithful God] the fatherless [orphans, those without earthly protection] find compassion [merciful kindness, loving care].” word study 4 I will heal [restore to health, cure] their apostasy [backsliding, unfaithfulness]; I will freely [with no expectation of reward, unconditionally] love them, for My anger [wrath, indignation] has turned away [been removed, withdrawn] from them. word study 5 I will be like the dew [refreshing and nourishing] to Israel; he will blossom [flourish, grow] like the lily and take root [become firmly established, strike forth] like the cedars [tall, majestic trees] of Lebanon [a place of abundance and fertility]. word study 6 His shoots [sucklings, branches] will sprout [fly, bloom, flourish], and his splendor [beauty, fragrance] will be like [similar to, comparable with] the olive tree, his fragrance [smell, aroma] like [reminiscent of, similar to] the cedars [trees, evergreen forests] of Lebanon [a mountain range]. word study 7 They will return [to their rightful place, dwell under his shadow] and dwell in his shade [protection, care]; they will grow grain [like the corn, flourish] and blossom [revive, be renewed] like the vine [with abundant fruit]. His renown [scent, fragrance, glory] will be [as famous, well-known] like the wine of Lebanon [with a pleasant aroma]. word study 8 O Ephraim, what have I to do anymore with [false, useless] idols? It is I who answer [respond, hear] and watch over [care for, protect] him. I am like a [green] flourishing cypress; your fruit comes from [proceeds, is given by] Me. word study 9 Whoever is wise [prudent, discerning], let him understand these things; whoever is discerning [having good sense], let him know them. For the ways [paths, journey] of the LORD [Yehovah] are right [upright, just], and the righteous [just, upright] walk in them but the rebellious [transgressors, sinners] stumble [fall, trip] in them. word study