Hosea 2:19

2:19 I will commit myself to you ¹  forever;

I will commit myself to you in ²  righteousness and justice,

in steadfast love and tender compassion.

Hosea 10:12

10:12 Sow righteousness for yourselves,

reap unfailing love.

Break up the unplowed ground for yourselves,

for it is time to seek the Lord,

until he comes and showers deliverance ³  on you.

¹ tn Heb “I will betroth you to me” (so NIV) here and in the following lines. Cf. NRSV “I will take you for my wife forever.”

² tn The preposition בְּ (bet), which is repeated throughout 2:19-20 [21-22], denotes price paid (BDB 90 s.v. בְּ III.3; e.g., Ezek 3:14). The text contains an allusion to the payment of bridal gifts. The Lord will impute the moral character to Israel that will be necessary for a successful covenant relationship (contra 4:1).

³ tn Or “righteousness” (so KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT); NAB “justice.”