Hosea 3

₁The Lord talked to me, Hosea, and He said: ‘You must go and love your wife again, the woman who loves another man and has sex with him. It is the same with Me and the Israelites. I love them, but they serve other gods. They love to eat offerings of raisins to idols.’

₂I went and bought her to get her back. I paid 15 pieces_of_silver and one homer and a lethek of barley. ₃I said to her: ‘You are mine and you must stay with me for a long time and you must not be unfaithful anymore. Don't sleep with other men. I will also stay with you and wait for you.’

₄This is because the Israelites will also go away for a long time. They will not have a king or officials. They will not sacrifice and they will have no sacred poles or idols or images to whom they can pray and ask what will happen.

₅But the Israelites will come back later. They will look to find the Lord their God and the descendants of King David. They will tremble and fear the Lord and they will come to Him and to the blessings that He will give them when it is the right time.