8. “Israel didn’t know that I, the Lord, was the one who gave her grain, wine, and oil. I kept giving her more and more silver and gold, but she used this silver and gold to make statues of Baal.
9. So I will return and take back my grain at the time it is ready to be harvested. I will take back my wine at the time the grapes are ready. I will take back my wool and linen. I gave those things to her so that she could cover her naked body.
10. Now I will strip her. She will be naked, so all her lovers can see her. No one will be able to save her from my power.
11. I will take away all her fun. I will stop her festivals, her New Moon celebrations, and her days of rest. I will stop all her special feasts.
12. I will destroy her vines and fig trees. She said, ‘My lovers gave these things to me.’ But I will change her gardens—they will become like a wild forest. Wild animals will come and eat from those plants.
13. “Israel served false gods, so I will punish her. She burned incense to those false gods. She dressed up—she put on her jewelry and nose ring. Then she went to her lovers and forgot me.” This is what the Lord has said.
14. “So I, the Lord, will speak romantic words to her. I will lead her into the desert and speak tender words.
15. There I will give her vineyards. I will give her Achor Valley as a doorway of hope. Then she will answer as she did when she came out of the land of Egypt.”
16. This is what the Lord says. “At that time you will call me ‘My husband.’ You will not call me ‘My Baal.’
17. I will take the names of those false gods out of her mouth. Then people will not use those names again.
18. “At that time I will make an agreement for the Israelites with the animals of the field, the birds of the sky, and the crawling things on the ground. I will break the bow, the sword, and the weapons of war in that land. I will make the land safe, so the people of Israel can lie down in peace.
19. And I will make you my bride forever. I will make you my bride with goodness and justice and with love and mercy.
20. I will make you my faithful bride. Then you will really know the Lord.