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.”

Then Yahweh said to me, “Go and show to your wife that you still love her, even though she has been committing adultery with another man who loves her. [That will show that] I still love the people of Israel, even though they worship other gods/idols and eat raisin cakes [in feasts that honor those gods].”

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

[My wife had become a slave, ] but I bought her for (6 ounces/179 grams) of silver and ten bushels 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.”

Then I said to her, “You must wait for many days [before we sleep together] [EUP]. During that time, you must not be a prostitute, and you must not have sex with any other man; but I will live with you.”

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

[Our doing that will show that] in the same way, the people of Israel will not have a king and [other] leaders for many years. They will not offer sacrifices or [have sacred stone] pillars, no sacred vest [for the Supreme Priest], and no idols!

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.

But later, the people of Israel will return to Yahweh their God and [be guided by him and] by a king who is a descendant of [King] David. In the last/future days they will come to Yahweh, revering him and trembling [in his presence], and he will bless them.