Hosea 3
The LORD commands Hosea to love his adulterous wife again and buy her back — a picture of how the LORD loves Israel despite her unfaithfulness. She is to remain faithful for many days, for Israel will abide many days without a king, without a prince, and without a sacrifice. Afterward they will return and seek the LORD their God and David their king.
| v | King James Version | Modern English |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Then said the LORD unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the LORD toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine. | The LORD said to me, "Go, show Your love to Your wife again, though she is loved by another man and is an adulteress. Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes." |
| 2 | So I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for an homer of barley, and an half homer of barley: | So I bought her for fifteen pieces of silver and about a homer and a half of barley. |
| 3 | And I said unto her, Thou shalt abide for me many days; thou shalt not play the harlot, and thou shalt not be for another man: so will I also be for thee. | Then I told her, "You are to live with me many days; You must not play the harlot or be with any other man, and I will also be for You." |
| 4 | For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim: | For the Israelites will live many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred stone, without ephod or household gods. |
| 5 | Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days. | Afterward the Israelites will return and seek the LORD their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the LORD and to His goodness in the last days. |