Hosea

Hosea’s marriage to Gomer becomes a living parable of Israel’s spiritual adultery. Judgment is real, yet God will allure his people and heal their apostasy.

Author: Hosea
Date: c. 755–715 BC
Theme: Unfaithful Israel and the steadfast love of God.
Key verses: Hosea 6:6; Hosea 14:4
Darby Translation

Hosea 14

1O Israel, return unto Jehovah thyGod; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. 2Take with you words, and turn to Jehovah; say unto him, Forgive all iniquity, and receive [us] graciously; so will we render the calves of our lips. 3Assyria shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, [Thou art] ourGod; because in thee the fatherless findeth mercy. 4I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely; for mine anger is turned away from him. 5I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall blossom as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. 6His shoots shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive-tree, and his smell as Lebanon. 7They shall return and sit under his shadow; they shall revive [as] corn, and blossom as the vine: the renown thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon. 8Ephraim [shall say], What have I to do any more with idols? (I answer [him], and I will observe him.) I am like a green fir-tree. — From me is thy fruit found. 9Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? intelligent, and he shall know them? For the ways of Jehovah are right, and the just shall walk in them; but the transgressors shall fall therein.

John Nelson Darby Translation (1890). Public domain or openly redistributable. Confirm the exact edition before public display if text is later imported.