⁸ “‘Later I passed by, and when I looked at you and saw that you were old enough for love, I spread the corner of my garment^(A) over you and covered your naked body. I gave you my solemn oath and entered into a covenant^(B) with you, declares the Sovereign Lord, and you became mine.^(C)

³ It was not with our ancestors^[a] that the Lord made this covenant, but with us,^(A) with all of us who are alive here today.^(B)

³¹ and in the wilderness. There you saw how the Lord your God carried^(A) you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place.”^(B)

⁶ Moses^(A) took half of the blood^(B) and put it in bowls, and the other half he splashed^(C) against the altar. ⁷ Then he took the Book of the Covenant^(D) and read it to the people. They responded, “We will do everything the Lord has said; we will obey.”^(E)

⁸ Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people^(F) and said, “This is the blood of the covenant^(G) that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.”

⁵ Now if you obey me fully^(A) and keep my covenant,^(B) then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession.^(C) Although the whole earth^(D) is mine,

¹⁸ This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood.^{(A) 19} When Moses had proclaimed^(B) every command of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves,^(C) together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people.^{(D) 20} He said, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.”^{[a](E) 21} In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. ²² In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood,^(F) and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.^(G)

²⁹ The bride belongs to the bridegroom.^(A) The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.^(B)

Hosea’s Reconciliation With His Wife

3 The Lord said to me, “Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another man and is an adulteress.^(A) Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes.^(B)”