Hosea 14:7-9

Contemporary English Version

⁷You will rest in my shade,
    and your grain will grow.
You will blossom
    like a vineyard
and be famous as the wine
    from Lebanon.

⁸Israel, give up your idols!
I will answer your prayers
and take care of you.^[a]
I am that glorious tree,
the source of your fruit.^[b]

⁹If you are wise, you will know
    and understand what I mean.
I am the Lord, and I lead you
    along the right path.
If you obey me,
    we will walk together,
but if you are wicked,
    you will stumble.

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Footnotes

14.8 Israel … you: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
14.8 I am … fruit: This is the only place in the Old Testament where the Lord is compared to a tree. Hosea reminds the people that it is the Lord who is the source of life, rather than the Canaanite gods and goddesses that are worshiped under trees at the local shrines.