Waiting for Restoration

1Then the Lord said to me, “Go again; show love to a woman who is loved by another man and is an adulteress,a just as the Lord loves the Israelites though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes.”b

2So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and nine bushels of barley.a B a 3I said to her, “You are to live with me many days. You must not be promiscuous or belong to any man, and I will act the same way toward you.”

4For the Israelites must live many days without king or prince,a without sacrificeb or sacred pillar,c and without ephodd or household idols.e 5Afterward, the people of Israel will returna and seek the Lord their God and David their king.b They will come with awe to the Lordc and to his goodness in the last days.