Hosea

3

Revised Standard Version

1 And the LORD said to me, 'Go again, love a woman who is beloved of a paramour and is an adulteress; even as the LORD loves the people of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love cakes of raisins.'

2 So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a lethech of barley.

3 And I said to her, 'You must dwell as mine for many days; you shall not play the harlot, or belong to another man; so will I also be to you.'

4 For the children of Israel shall dwell many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or pillar, without ephod or teraphim.

5 Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and they shall come in fear to the LORD and to his goodness in the latter days.

Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA.