1. Return, Israel, to the Lord your God.Your sins have been your downfall!
2. Take words with youand return to the Lord.Say to him:‘Forgive all our sinsand receive us graciously,that we may offer the fruit of our lips.
3. Assyria cannot save us;we will not mount war-horses.We will never again say “Our gods”to what our own hands have made,for in you the fatherless find compassion.’
4. ‘I will heal their waywardnessand love them freely,for my anger has turned away from them.
5. I will be like the dew to Israel;he will blossom like a lily.Like a cedar of Lebanonhe will send down his roots;
6. his young shoots will grow.His splendour will be like an olive tree,his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon.
7. People will dwell again in his shade;they will flourish like the corn,they will blossom like the vine –Israel’s fame will be like the wine of Lebanon.
8. Ephraim, what more have I to do with idols?I will answer him and care for him.I am like a flourishing juniper;your fruitfulness comes from me.’
9. Who is wise? Let them realise these things.Who is discerning? Let them understand.The ways of the Lord are right;the righteous walk in them,but the rebellious stumble in them.Footnotes for the Book of Hoseaa In Hebrew texts 2:1-23 is numbered 2:3-25.b 15 Achor means trouble.c 15 Or singd 16 Hebrew baale 19,20 Or withf 22 Jezreel means God plants.g 23 Hebrew Lo-Ruhamah (see 1:6)h 23 Hebrew Lo-Ammi (see 1:9)a 2 That is, to pronounce a curse onb 7 Syriac (see also an ancient Hebrew scribal tradition); Masoretic Text me; / I will exchange their gloryc 15 Beth Aven means house of wickedness (a derogatory name for Bethel, which means house of God).a 5 The meaning of the Hebrew for this line is uncertain.b 7 Or Like Adam; or Like human beingsa 8 Or The prophet is the watchman over Ephraim, / the people of my Goda 2 Septuagint; Hebrew themb 12 In Hebrew texts this verse (11:12) is numbered 12:1.a 2 Or ‘Men who sacrifice / kissb 16 In Hebrew texts this verse (13:16) is numbered 14:1.