< Hosea 3 >
1 And YHWH says to me: “Again, go, love a woman, loved of a friend, and an adulteress, like the loved of YHWH, the sons of Israel, and they are turning to other gods, and are lovers of grape-cakes.”
Then said the LORD unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the LORD toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine.
2 And I buy her for myself for fifteen pieces of silver, and a homer and a lethech of barley;
So I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for an homer of barley, and an half homer of barley:
3 and I say to her, “You remain many days for Me, you do not go whoring, nor become anyone’s; and I also [am] for you.”
And I said unto her, You shall abide for me many days; you shall not play the harlot, and you shall not be for another man: so will I also be for you.
4 For the sons of Israel remain without a king for many days, and there is no prince, and there is no sacrifice, and there is no standing pillar, and there is no ephod and teraphim.
For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim:
5 Afterward the sons of Israel have turned back, and sought their God YHWH, and David their king, and have hurried to YHWH, and to His goodness, in the latter end of the days.
Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days.