3Hosea 3

Hosea and the Unfaithful Woman

1The Lord said to me, “Go again and show your love for a woman who is committing adultery with a lover. You must love her just as I still love the people of Israel, even though they turn to other gods and like to take offerings of raisins to idols.”Select Hosea 3:1

2So I paid fifteen pieces of silver and seven bushels of barley to buy her.Select Hosea 3:2

3I told her that for a long time she would have to wait for me without being a prostitute or committing adultery; and during this time I would wait for her.Select Hosea 3:3

4In just this way the people of Israel will have to live for a long time without kings or leaders, without sacrifices or sacred stone pillars, without idols or images to use for divination.Select Hosea 3:4

5But the time will come when the people of Israel will once again turn to the Lord their God and to a descendant of David their king. Then they will fear the Lord and will receive his good gifts.Select Hosea 3:5