Hosea 14:9

‘Who is wise, that he may understand these things?

Prudent, that he may know them?

For the ways of YHWH are right,

And the righteous will walk in them,

But transgressors will fall in them.'

There is a hint of wisdom writing in these final words (compare the similar parallel situation in Psalms 107:43), but it will be noted that whilst the wisdom writers in the Old Testament always contrast ‘the righteous' with ‘the wicked', here Hosea contrasts ‘the righteous' with ‘transgressors'. Being familiar with wisdom writing he calls on it and fashions it in accordance with his own purpose, at least in the first two lines. We should, however, note that the thoughts behind the second two lines are found elsewhere in Scripture, in what some would call ‘Deuteronomic' literature, with the phrase ‘the ways of YHWH' appearing in 2 Samuel 22:22 (and not appearing in any wisdom literature). Compare also Psalms 138:5; Deuteronomy 32:4. Furthermore the thought of ‘walking in His ways' is comparable to Deuteronomy 10:12 (compare also Deuteronomy 5:33). Reference to ‘transgressors' is found in the Davidic Psalms 51:13 and in Isaiah 1:28 (whose ministry would by now be under way).

That being said Hosea's purpose here is simply to make his readers consider his prophecy more deeply, something which indicates that the heart of the prophecy is by this stage already in writing. He is emphasising, with all the authority of a wisdom teacher, that the wise and the prudent will take note of what he has said, and with all the authority of the Scriptures available to him that they will do so because YHWH's ways are right, and because those who are righteous will therefore walk in them.

In contrast he points out that transgressors will fall in them. So all must consider seriously which path they take, and will know whether they are righteous or transgressors by how they respond. Furthermore while the wise will know that His ways are right, it is the righteous who will walk in them. It is a reminder that it is possible to be ‘wise' without being obedient, and that that then makes the person a transgressor.