6 his young shoots will grow.His splendour will be like an olive tree,his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon.
7 People will dwell again in his shade;they will flourish like the corn,they will blossom like the vine –Israel’s fame will be like the wine of Lebanon.
8 Ephraim, what more have I to do with idols?I will answer him and care for him.I am like a flourishing juniper;your fruitfulness comes from me.’
9 Who is wise? Let them realise these things.Who is discerning? Let them understand.The ways of the Lord are right;the righteous walk in them,but the rebellious stumble in them.Footnotes for the Book of Hoseaa In Hebrew texts 2:1-23 is numbered 2:3-25.b 15 Achor means trouble.c 15 Or singd 16 Hebrew baale 19,20 Or withf 22 Jezreel means God plants.g 23 Hebrew Lo-Ruhamah (see 1:6)h 23 Hebrew Lo-Ammi (see 1:9)a 2 That is, to pronounce a curse onb 7 Syriac (see also an ancient Hebrew scribal tradition); Masoretic Text me; / I will exchange their gloryc 15 Beth Aven means house of wickedness (a derogatory name for Bethel, which means house of God).a 5 The meaning of the Hebrew for this line is uncertain.b 7 Or Like Adam; or Like human beingsa 8 Or The prophet is the watchman over Ephraim, / the people of my Goda 2 Septuagint; Hebrew themb 12 In Hebrew texts this verse (11:12) is numbered 12:1.a 2 Or ‘Men who sacrifice / kissb 16 In Hebrew texts this verse (13:16) is numbered 14:1.