And she shall follow after her lovers, but she shall not overtake them; and she shall seek them, but shall not find them: then shall she say, I will go and return to my first husband; for then was it better with me than now.

For she did not know that I gave her corn, and wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold, which they prepared for Baal.

Therefore will I return, and take away my corn in the time thereof, and my wine in the season thereof, and will recover my wool and my flax given to cover her nakedness.

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She will chase after her lovers but not catch them;
    she will look for them but not find them.(A)
Then she will say,
    ‘I will go back to my husband(B) as at first,(C)
    for then I was better off(D) than now.’
She has not acknowledged(E) that I was the one
    who gave her the grain, the new wine and oil,(F)
who lavished on her the silver and gold(G)
    which they used for Baal.(H)

“Therefore I will take away my grain(I) when it ripens,
    and my new wine(J) when it is ready.
I will take back my wool and my linen,
    intended to cover her naked body.

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