1 O ISRAEL, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.
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.
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.
4 I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.
5 I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.
6 His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon.
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.
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.
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.

1O Israel, returne vnto the Lord thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquitie.

2Take with you words, and turne to the Lord, say vnto him, Take away all iniquitie, and receiue vs graciously: so will wee render the calues of our lips.

3Asshur shall not saue vs, we will not ride vpon horses, neither will wee say any more to the work of our hands, Yee are our gods: for in thee the fatherlesse findeth mercie.

4 I will heale their backsliding, I will loue them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.

5I wil be as the dew vnto Israel: hee shall grow as the lillie, and cast foorth his rootes as Lebanon.

6His branches shall spread, and his beautie shalbe as the oliue tree, and his smell as Lebanon.

7They that dwell vnder his shadow shall returne: they shall reuiue as the corne, & grow as the vine, the sent thereof shalbe as the wine of Lebanon.

8Ephraim shall say, What haue I to doe any more with idoles? I haue heard him, and obserued him: I am like a greene firre tree, from me is thy fruite found.

9Who is wise, and hee shall vnderstand these things? prudent, and hee shall know them? for the wayes of the Lord are right, and the iust shall walke in them: but the transgressours shall fall therein.

I == Hos 12:6 ; 13:9 ; Joel 2:13

II == Heb 13:15

III == Isa 30:2 , 16 ; 31:1 ; Jer 31:18

IV == Jer 5:6 ; 14:7 ; Hos 11:7 ; Eph 1:6

V == Job 29:19 ; Prov 19:12

VI == Ps 52:8 ; 128:3 ; Soan 4:11

VIII == Jer 31:18 ; James 1:17

IX == Prov 10:29

1 Samaria shall expiate her guilt, for she has rebelled against her God. They shall fall by the sword, their little ones shall be dashed to pieces, their expectant mothers shall be ripped open.

2 Return, O Israel, to the LORD, your God; you have collapsed through your guilt.

3 Take with you words, and return to the LORD; Say to him, "Forgive all iniquity, and receive what is good, that we may render as offerings the bullocks from our stalls.

4 Assyria will not save us, nor shall we have horses to mount; We shall say no more, 'Our god,' to the work of our hands; for in you the orphan finds compassion."

5 I will heal their defection, I will love them freely; for my wrath is turned away from them.

6 I will be like the dew for Israel: he shall blossom like the lily; He shall strike root like the Lebanon cedar,

7 and put forth his shoots. His splendor shall be like the olive tree and his fragrance like the Lebanon cedar.

8 Again they shall dwell in his shade and raise grain; They shall blossom like the vine, and his fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon.

9 Ephraim! What more has he to do with idols? I have humbled him, but I will prosper him. "I am like a verdant cypress tree" - Because of me you bear fruit!

10 Let him who is wise understand these things; let him who is prudent know them. Straight are the paths of the LORD, in them the just walk, but sinners stumble in them.

v 1-3. The last chapter begins with an exhortation to repentance. Most would not, but this would bring hope to the believing remnant. They should ask forgiveness, praise God and no longer rely on Assyria or other nations, or on idols. After captivity, Israel never went back into idolatry as a nation. Calves of our lips is praise instead of offering bullocks. Similar to fruit of our lips, Heb. 13:15.

v 4-7. When Israel repented, the Lord would show His love by healing their backsliding and give restoration blessing of prosperity and growth like a fruitful vine.
v 8. Ephraim will have no more to do with idols, and God will bless for that.
v 9. The book closes with words to the wise. (Cp. Dan. 12:10; Jn. 14:26)
a. The ways of the Lord are right (the demands of His covenant to them)
b. The righteous walk in them  (and experience blessing)
c. The rebellious stumble over them  (which leads to destruction)