14:1 Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity.
14:1 Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity.

14:2 Take with you words and return to the LORD; say to him, "Take away all iniquity; accept that which is good and we will render the fruit of our lips.
14:2 Take words with you and return to the LORD; say to him, "Take away all guilt; accept that which is good, and we will offer the fruit of our lips.

14:3 Assyria shall not save us, we will not ride upon horses; and we will say no more, `Our God,' to the work of our hands. In thee the orphan finds mercy."
14:3 Assyria shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses; we will say no more, 'Our God,' to the work of our hands. In you the orphan finds mercy."

14:4 I will heal their faithlessness; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them.
14:4 I will heal their disloyalty; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them.

14:5 I will be as the dew to Israel; he shall blossom as the lily, he shall strike root as the poplar;
14:5 I will be like the dew to Israel; he shall blossom like the lily, he shall strike root like the forests of Lebanon.

14:6 his shoots shall spread out; his beauty shall be like the olive, and his fragrance like Lebanon.
14:6 His shoots shall spread out; his beauty shall be like the olive tree, and his fragrance like that of Lebanon.

14:7 They shall return and dwell beneath my shadow, they shall flourish as a garden; they shall blossom as the vine, their fragrance shall be like the wine of Lebanon.
14:7 They shall again live beneath my shadow, they shall flourish as a garden; they shall blossom like the vine, their fragrance shall be like the wine of Lebanon.

14:8 O E'phraim, what have I to do with idols? It is I who answer and look after you. I am like an evergreen cypress, from me comes your fruit.
14:8 O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols? It is I who answer and look after you. I am like an evergreen cypress; your faithfulness comes from me.

14:9 Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the LORD are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.
14:9 Those who are wise understand these things; those who are discerning know them. For the ways of the LORD are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.