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
That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the …
He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without …
The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.
Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from …
Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.
Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly?
How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? …
The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the …
The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.