Hosea 14 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

Come back, Israel, to Yahweh your God — because your failures are what brought you down.

Bring words with you and return to Yahweh. Say to him: "Take away all our failure, and receive what is good — we will offer the praise of our lips as our sacrifice."

Assyria will not rescue us. We won't ride into battle on war horses. We will never again call something our own hands built 'our god.' Because it's in you that the orphan finds compassion.

I will heal their wandering. I will love them freely — because my anger has turned away from them.

I will be like dew to Israel — he will bloom like a lily and drive his roots down deep like the cedars of Lebanon.

His young branches will spread out wide. His splendor will be like the olive tree, and his fragrance like the forests of Lebanon.

Those who live in his shade will come back to life. They will flourish like grain and blossom like the vine — their reputation will be like the wine of Lebanon.

Ephraim will say, "What do I have to do with idols anymore?" I am the one who answers him and watches over him. I am like an evergreen cypress — your fruit comes from me.

Whoever is wise will understand these things. Whoever has insight will grasp them. The paths Yahweh lays out are straight — the upright walk them, but those who rebel stumble on them.