1. Again the Lord said to me:Go, love a womanwho is loved by her spouse but commits adultery;Just as the Lord loves the Israelites,though they turn to other godsand love raisin cakes.
2. So I acquired her for myself for fifteen pieces of silver and a homer and a lethech of barley.
3. Then I said to her:“You will wait for me for many days;you will not prostitute yourselfOr belong to any man;I in turn will wait for you.”
4. For the Israelites will remain many dayswithout king or prince,Without sacrifice or sacred pillar,without ephod or household gods.
5. Afterward the Israelites will turn backand seek the Lord, their God,and David, their king; They will come trembling to the Lordand to his bounty, in the last days.