14:1 Return, O Israel, to the Lord thy God; for the people have fallen through thine iniquities.

14:2 Take with you words, and turn to the Lord your God: speak to him, that ye may not receive [the reward of] unrighteousness, but that ye may receive good things: and we will render in return the fruit of our lips.

14:3 Assur shall never save us; we will not mount on horseback; we will no longer say to the works of our hands, Our gods. He who is in thee shall pity the orphan.

14:4 I will restore their dwellings, I will love them truly: for he has turned away my wrath from him.

14:5 I will be as dew to Israel: he shall bloom as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Libanus.

14:6 His branches shall spread, and he shall be as a fruitful olive, and his smell shall be as [the smell] of Libanus.

14:7 They shall return, and dwell under his shadow: they shall live and be satisfied with corn, and he shall flower as a vine: his memorial shall be to Ephraim as the wine of Libanus.

14:8 What [has] he to do any more with idols? I have afflicted him, and I will strengthen him: I am as a leafy juniper tree. From me is thy fruit found.

14:9 Who is wise, and will understand these things? or prudent, and will know them? for the ways of the Lord are straight, and the righteous shall walk in them: but the ungodly shall fall therein.

14:1 O israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.

14:2 Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.

14:3 Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.

14:4 I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.

14:5 I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.

14:6 His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon.

14:7 They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.

14:8 Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.

14:9 Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.