Hosea
2 Come back to Jehovah with these words,
Say to him, ‘May you pardon our error+ and accept what is good,
And we will offer the praise of our lips+ as we would young bulls.*
3 As·syrʹi·a will not save us.+
We will not ride on horses,+
And we will no longer say, “O our God!” to the work of our hands,
For it is by you that the fatherless child is shown mercy.’+
4 I will heal their unfaithfulness.+
5 I will become like the dew to Israel;
He will blossom like the lily
And will send down his roots like the trees of Lebʹa·non.
6 His twigs will spread,
His splendor will be like that of the olive tree,
And his fragrance like that of Lebʹa·non.
7 They will again dwell in his shadow.
They will grow grain and will bud like the vine.+
His fame* will be like the wine of Lebʹa·non.
8 Eʹphra·im will say, ‘What more do I have to do with idols?’+
I will answer and watch over him.+
I will be like a thriving juniper tree.
From me your fruit will be found.”
9 Who is wise? Let him understand these things.
Who is discreet? Let him know them.
For the ways of Jehovah are upright,+
And the righteous will walk in them;
But the transgressors will stumble in them.