14 Therefore, listen, I’m going to entice her.

≈I’ll bring her into the wilderness and speak tenderly to her.

15 I’ll give her back her vineyards,

and the depressing Akor Valley[ref] as a gateway for hope.

She’ll answer me there as in the days of her youth—

like at the time that she came out of Egypt (Heb. Mitsrayim).

16 Yahweh declares you’ll call me, ‘My husband,’ at the time

^and no longer call me, ‘My master (Heb. Baal),’

17 because I’ll remove the names of the Baals from her mouth,

and they’ll no longer be remembered by their names.”

18 “On that day I’ll make an agreement for them

with the animals in the fields,

with the birds in the sky,

and with the crawling things on the ground.

I’ll abolish the bow, the sword, and war from the land,

and I’ll make you lie down in safety.

19 I’ll take you as my wife forever.

I’ll marry you to me in righteousness and justice,

in loyal commitment, and in mercy.

20 I’ll be faithful to you as my wife,

and you’ll know Yahweh.

21 This is Yahweh’s declaration:

At that time I’ll answer the skies with rain,

and they’ll answer the earth.

22 The earth will answer the grain, the new wine and the oil,

and they’ll answer Yizre’el (which means ‘God sows/plants’).

23 I will sow her for myself in the land,

and I will have mercy on Lo-Ruhamah (‘No mercy’).

I will tell Lo-Ammi (‘Not my people’),

You are my people,’

and they’ll say, ‘You’re our God.’ ”[ref]