Hosea 14:9
Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.
Study Note
Study Note
The wisdom epilogue of Hosea — 'who is wise and will understand these things?' — is unique in the prophetic corpus: it frames the entire book as a wisdom text requiring discernment, inviting readers to engage the prophet's words with the interpretive posture of a Torah student rather than the passive reception of oracular pronouncement. The contrast between the 'just who walk in the ways of the Lord' and 'transgressors who fall in them' introduces a stumbling-stone motif applied to the same divine ways, suggesting that divine revelation simultaneously illuminates and exposes. The verse provided later Jewish interpreters (Midrash, Talmud) with authorization to read Hosea as polysemous, requiring ongoing interpretive labor. Paul's use of the stumbling-stone motif in Romans 9:33 and 1 Corinthians 1:23 operates within this tradition.
Other Translations
Who is wise, that he may understand these things? prudent, that he may know them? for the ways of Jehovah are right, and the just shall walk in them; but transgressors shall fall therein.
Who <FI>is<Fi> wise, and doth understand these? Prudent, and knoweth them? For upright are the ways of Jehovah, And the righteous go on in them, And the transgressors stumble therein!
He who is wise will see these things; he who has good sense will have knowledge of them. For the ways of the Lord are straight, and the upright will go in them, but sinners will be falling in them.
Cross References
He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without …
How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? …
Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly?
Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.
Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from …
The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.
The way of the Lord is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: