Hosea 3

1 Bwana akaniambia, “Nenda, ukaonyeshe upendo wako kwa mke wako tena, ingawa amependwa na mwingine naye ni mzinzi. Mpende kama Bwana apendavyo Waisraeli, ingawa wanageukia miungu mingine na kupenda mikate mitamu ya zabibu kavu iliyowekwa wakfu.”

And the Lord said to me: Go yet again, and love a woman beloved of her friend, and an adulteress: as the Lord loveth the children of Israel, and they look to strange gods, and love the husks of the grapes.

2 Basi nilimnunua huyo mwanamke kwa shekeli kumi na tano za fedha, pia kwa kiasi kama cha homeri moja na nusu ya shayiri.

And I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for a core of barley, and for half a core of barley.

3 Kisha nilimwambia, “Utaishi nami kwa siku nyingi, hupaswi kuwa kahaba au kuwa na uhusiano wa karibu na mtu yeyote, nami nitaishi na wewe.”

And I said to her: Thou shalt wait for me many days: thou shalt not play the harlot, and thou shalt be no man’s, and I also will wait for thee.

4 Kwa maana Waisraeli wataishi siku nyingi bila kuwa na mfalme wala mkuu, bila kuwa na dhabihu wala mawe matakatifu, bila kisibau wala sanamu.

For the children of Israel shall sit many days without king, and without prince, and without sacrifice, and without altar, and without ephod, and without theraphim.

5 Baadaye Waisraeli watarudi na kumtafuta Bwana Mungu wao na Daudi mfalme wao. Watakuja wakitetemeka kwa Bwana na kwa baraka zake katika siku za mwisho.

And after this the children of Israel shall return, and shall seek the Lord their God, and David their king: and they shall fear the Lord, and his goodness in the last days.