God's love offers hope

1Once again the LORD spoke to me. And this time he said, “Hosea, fall in love with an unfaithful woman3.1 unfaithful woman: This may refer to Gomer, the woman Hosea married (see 1.3), or it may refer to another woman. who has a lover. Do this to show that I love the people of Israel, even though they worship idols and enjoy the offering cakes made with fruit.”

2So I paid fifteen pieces of silver and about a hundred and fifty kilogrammes of grain for such a woman. 3Then I said, “Now you are mine! You will have to remain faithful to me, though it will be a long time before we sleep together.”

4It will also be a long time before Israel has a king or before sacrifices are offered at the temple or before there is any way to get guidance from God. 5But later, Israel will turn back to the LORD their God and to David their king. At that time they will come to the LORD with fear and trembling, and he will be good to them.