Hosea 3

1 Then said the Lord unto me, Go once more, love a woman beloved of her husband, yet committing adultery; like the love of the Lord toward the children of Israel, who turn themselves after other gods, and love flagons of wine.

上主對我說：「你再去愛那個另有新歡的淫婦，就如我還是愛慕以色列子民一樣；雖然他們轉向了別的神，愛上了葡萄乾餅。」

2 So I bought me such a one for fifteen pieces of silver, and for a chomer of barley, and half a chomer of barley.

我就用十五塊銀錢，一「荷默爾」和「勵特客」大麥，把她給我再買回來。

3 And I said unto her, Many days shalt thou abide [true] for me: thou shalt not play the harlot, and thou shalt not belong to any man, and so will I also be toward thee.

然後對她說：「妳要為我安心多住些時日，不要行淫，不要屬於任何人；我對妳也是這樣。」

4 For many days shall the children of Israel abide without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without a standing image, and without an ephod and theraphim.

因為以色列子民也將好些日子沒有君王，沒有首領、沒有祭獻，沒有柱像，沒有「厄弗得」，沒有「忒辣芬」。

5 After that will the children of Israel return, and seek for the Lord their God and David their king; and fearing will they hasten to the Lord and to his goodness in the latter days,

此後以色列子民將要回轉過來，尋求上主他們的天主，和他們的君王達味；到末日，他們必要戰戰兢兢地奔向上主，分享衪的美物。