New Living Translation (NLT)
Hosea 14
4 The LORD says, “Then I will heal you of your faithlessness; my love will know no bounds, for my anger will be gone forever.
5 I will be to Israel like a refreshing dew from heaven. Israel will blossom like the lily; it will send roots deep into the soil like the cedars in Lebanon.
6 Its branches will spread out like beautiful olive trees, as fragrant as the cedars of Lebanon.
7 My people will again live under my shade. They will flourish like grain and blossom like grapevines. They will be as fragrant as the wines of Lebanon.
8 “O Israel, stay away from idols! I am the one who answers your prayers and cares for you. I am like a tree that is always green; all your fruit comes from me.”
9 Let those who are wise understand these things. Let those with discernment listen carefully. The paths of the LORD are true and right, and righteous people live by walking in them. But in those paths sinners stumble and fall.
Joel 1
1 The LORD gave this message to Joel son of Pethuel.
2 Hear this, you leaders of the people. Listen, all who live in the land. In all your history, has anything like this happened before?
3 Tell your children about it in the years to come, and let your children tell their children. Pass the story down from generation to generation.
4 After the cutting locusts finished eating the crops, the swarming locusts took what was left! After them came the hopping locusts, and then the stripping locusts, too!
5 Wake up, you drunkards, and weep! Wail, all you wine-drinkers! All the grapes are ruined, and all your sweet wine is gone.
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