Could anyone explain to me what HaShem meant in Hosea 14:9 (particularly, the last sentence of the verse)? My JPS Tanakh translates this as ‘Ephraim [shall say]: “What more have I to do with idols? When I respond and look to Him, I become like a verdant cypress.” Your fruit is provided by me.’
It sounds very much to me like HaShem is saying that the quality and quantity of a man’s deeds, works and speech are determined by his turning-to and faithfully responding to G-d. But then it seems to me that this same ‘fruitfulness’ is COMMANDED by G-d (Gen. 1:28). So is ‘fruitfulness’ Man’s responsibility or HaShem’s?
I am a British Noachide and I can’t read Hebrew, so explanations in English would be helpful. Many thanks, TW