Make A Fresh Start

^4-8  “I will heal their waywardness.  I will love them lavishly. My anger is played out.  I will make a fresh start with Israel. He’ll burst into bloom like a crocus in the spring. He’ll put down deep oak tree roots,  he’ll become a forest of oaks! He’ll become splendid—like a giant sequoia, his fragrance like a grove of cedars! Those who live near him will be blessed by him,  be blessed and prosper like golden grain. Everyone will be talking about them, spreading their fame as the vintage children of God. Ephraim is finished with gods that are no-gods. From now on I’m the one who answers and satisfies him. I am like a luxuriant fruit tree. Everything you need is to be found in me.”

– Hosea 14:4-8

The Message Version (MSG)

重新開始

^4-8 「我要醫治他們背道的病，毫不吝惜我對他們的愛。我的怒氣已經消散，我要與以色列重新開始。她要像春天裏的藏紅花一樣綻放，她要像宏偉的杉樹一樣，華美而壯麗，會對神有更真確的認識。這樣我們很快便可以得著痊癒，對愛情不再存有出於感情用事的誤解，「能夠回應神對我們的愛，也能愛那些不愛我們的要如橡樹一樣扎根，要繁衍成茂密的樹林！她發出的香氣，要如雪松林一般！凡住在她周圍的，都因她得福，必興旺如飽滿、金黃的麥穗。人人都要談論他們，傳揚他們的名聲，因為他們是神兒女中最優秀的。以法蓮跟那些不是神的偶像不再有關係，從今以後，他要以我為滿足和幫助。我是一棵豐盛的果樹，你們所需要的，都在我裏面。」

— 何十四4-8

摘自 畢德生《請你吃聖經》*主題經張天慧醫師修輯整理