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God's Love Offers Hope

¹ Once again the Lord spoke to me. And this time he said, "Hosea, fall in love with an unfaithful woman^[a] 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."

² So I paid fifteen pieces of silver and about ten bushels of grain for such a woman. ³ Then 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."

⁴ It 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. ⁵ But 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.