Hosea

Samaria must bear her guilt,For she has defied her God.They shall fall by the sword,Their infants shall be dashed to death,And their women with child ripped open.

Return, O Israel, to the ETERNAL your God,For you have fallen because of your sin.

Take words with youAnd return to GOD.Say:“Forgive all guiltAnd accept what is good;Instead of bulls we will pay[The offering of] our lips.aForgive … lips Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

Assyria shall not save us,No more will we ride on steeds;bNo more will we ride on steeds I.e., we will no longer depend on an alliance with Egypt; cf. 2 Kings 18.24 (Isa. 36.9); Isa. 30.16. Nor ever again will we callOur handiwork our god,Since in You alone orphans find pity!”cpity I.e., parental compassion (cf. Ps. 103.13) or legal affiliation (cf. Hos. 2.6, 25).

I will heal their affliction,daffliction For this meaning of meshubah see Jer. 2.19; 3.22. Generously will I take them back in love;For My anger has turned away from them.ethem Heb. “him.”

I will be to Israel like dew;He shall blossom like the lily,He shall strike root like a Lebanon tree.fLebanon tree Emendation yields “poplar.”

His boughs shall spread out far,His beauty shall be like the olive tree’s,His fragrance like that of Lebanon.

They who sit in his shade shall be revived:They shall bring to life new grain,They shall blossom like the vine;His scent shall be like the wine of Lebanon.gLebanon Emendation yields “Helbon”; cf. Ezek. 27.18.

Ephraim [shall say]:“What more have I to do with idols?When I respond and look to [God],I become like a verdant cypress.”Your fruit is provided by Me.hYour fruit is provided by Me Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

The wise will consider these words,The prudent will take note of them.For the paths of GOD are smooth;The righteous can walk on them,While sinners stumble on them.