< 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 the Lord said to me, ‘Go again, show love to this woman, who is loved by another, who commits adultery. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods, and love the raisin cakes offered to idols.
2 And I buy her for myself for fifteen pieces of silver, and a homer and a lethech of barley;
So I redeemed her for fifteen pieces of silver and a homer and a lethek 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 told her, ‘You must live with me for many days and you must not sleep around or marry another. And I will do the same 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.
And like this the Israelites will live for a long time without king and without prince, without sacrifice and without pillar, without 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.
Yet afterward the Israelites will return, and seek the Lord their God and their Davidic king, and in the days to come they will turn with awe to the Lord and his goodness.

< Hosea 3 >