13 Rend your heart

and not your garments.

Return to the Lord your God,

for he is gracious and compassionate,

slow to anger and abounding in love,

and he relents from sending calamity.

14 Who knows? He may turn and relent

and leave behind a blessing—

grain offerings and drink offerings

for the Lord your God.

15 Blow the trumpet in Zion,

declare a holy fast,

call a sacred assembly.

16 Gather the people,

consecrate the assembly;

bring together the elders,

gather the children,

those nursing at the breast.

Let the bridegroom leave his room

and the bride her chamber.

13 And rend your heart, and not your garments,

And turn unto the Lord your God:

For he is gracious and merciful,

Slow to anger, and of great kindness,

And repenteth him of the evil.

14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent,

And leave a blessing behind him;

Even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the Lord your God?

15 Blow the trumpet in Zion,

Sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:

16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders,

Gather the children, and those that suck the breasts:

Let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.

13 Don’t tear your clothing in your grief,

but tear your hearts instead.”

Return to the Lord your God,

for he is merciful and compassionate,

slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.

He is eager to relent and not punish.

14 Who knows? Perhaps he will give you a reprieve,

sending you a blessing instead of this curse.

Perhaps you will be able to offer grain and wine

to the Lord your God as before.

15 Blow the ram’s horn in Jerusalem!

Announce a time of fasting;

call the people together

for a solemn meeting.

16 Gather all the people—

the elders, the children, and even the babies.

Call the bridegroom from his quarters

and the bride from her private room.

13 So rend your heart, and not your garments;

Return to the Lord your God,

For He is gracious and merciful,

Slow to anger, and of great kindness;

And He relents from doing harm.

14 Who knows if He will turn and relent,

And leave a blessing behind Him—

A grain offering and a drink offering

For the Lord your God?

15 Blow the trumpet in Zion,

Consecrate a fast,

Call a sacred assembly;

16 Gather the people,

Sanctify the congregation,

Assemble the elders,

Gather the children and nursing babes;

Let the bridegroom go out from his chamber,

And the bride from her dressing room.

13 Tearing your clothes is not enough to show you are sad;

let your heart be broken.

Come back to the Lord your God,

because he is kind and shows mercy.

He doesn’t become angry quickly,

and he has great love.

He can change his mind about doing harm.

14 Who knows? Maybe he will turn back to you

and leave behind a blessing for you.

Grain and drink offerings belong to the Lord your God.

15 Blow the trumpet in Jerusalem;

call for a day when everyone fasts.

Tell everyone to stop work.

16 Bring the people together

and make the meeting holy for the Lord.

Bring together the elders,

as well as the children,

and even babies that still feed at their mothers’ breasts.

The bridegroom should come from his room,

the bride from her bedroom.

13 and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto Jehovah your God; for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness, and repenteth him of the evil. 14 Who knoweth whether he will not turn and repent, and leave a blessing behind him, even a meal-offering and a drink-offering unto Jehovah your God?

15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly; 16 gather the people, sanctify the assembly, assemble the old men, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts; let the bridegroom go forth from his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.

13 and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto Jehovah your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great loving-kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. 14 Who knoweth? He might return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him, an oblation and a drink-offering for Jehovah your God? 15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, hallow a fast, proclaim a solemn assembly; 16 gather the people, hallow the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts; let the bridegroom go forth from his chamber, and the bride from her closet.

13 Tear your hearts, not your clothes. 

Return to the Lord your God. 

He is merciful and compassionate, 

patient, and always ready to forgive 

and to change his plans about disaster. 

14 Who knows? 

He may reconsider and change his plan 

and leave a blessing for you. 

Then you could give grain offerings and wine offerings 

to the Lord your God. 

15 Blow the ram’s horn in Zion. 

Schedule a time to fast. 

Call for an assembly. 

16 Gather the people. 

Prepare them for a holy meeting. 

Assemble the leaders. 

Gather the children, even the nursing infants. 

Grooms leave their rooms. 

Brides leave their chambers. 

13 Tear your hearts,

not just your clothes,

and return to the Lord your God.

For He is gracious and compassionate,

slow to anger, rich in faithful love,

and He relents from sending disaster.

14 Who knows? He may turn and relent

and leave a blessing behind Him,

so you can offer grain and wine

to the Lord your God.

15 Blow the horn in Zion!

Announce a sacred fast;

proclaim an assembly.

16 Gather the people;

sanctify the congregation;

assemble the aged;

gather the children,

even those nursing at the breast.

Let the groom leave his bedroom,

and the bride her honeymoon chamber.

13 rend your hearts and not your clothing.

Return to the Lord, your God,

for he is gracious and merciful,

slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love,

and relents from punishing.

14 Who knows whether he will not turn and relent,

and leave a blessing behind him,

a grain offering and a drink offering

for the Lord, your God?

15 Blow the trumpet in Zion;

sanctify a fast;

call a solemn assembly;

16 gather the people.

Sanctify the congregation;

assemble the aged;

gather the children,

even infants at the breast.

Let the bridegroom leave his room,

and the bride her canopy.

13 Rend your hearts and not your garments,

and return to Yahweh your God,

because he is gracious and compassionate,

slow to anger and great in loyal love,

and relenting from harm.

14 Who knows whether he will turn and relent,

and leave a blessing behind him,

an offering and a libation,

for Yahweh your God?

15 Blow the trumpet in Zion,

sanctify a fast, call an assembly;

16 gather the people, consecrate the assembly;

assemble the elders, gather the children,

even those who are breast-feeding;

let the bridegroom come out from his private room,

and the bride from her canopy.

13 Don’t just tear your clothes to show how sad you are.

Let your hearts be broken.

Return to the Lord your God.

He is gracious.

He is tender and kind.

He is slow to get angry.

He is full of love.

He takes pity on you.

He won’t destroy you.

14 Who knows? He might turn toward you

and have pity on you.

He might even give you his blessing.

Then you can bring grain offerings and drink offerings

to the Lord your God.

15 Priests, blow the trumpets in Zion.

Announce a holy fast.

Tell the people not to eat anything.

Gather them together for a special service.

16 Bring them together.

Set all of them apart to me.

Bring together the elders.

Gather the children and the babies

who are still nursing.

Let the groom leave his bedroom.

Let the bride leave their marriage bed.

13 And rend your heart and not your garments.”

Now return to the Lord your God,

For He is gracious and compassionate,

Slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness

And relenting of evil.

14 Who knows whether He will not turn and relent

And leave a blessing behind Him,

Even a grain offering and a drink offering

For the Lord your God?

15 Blow a trumpet in Zion,

Consecrate a fast, proclaim a solemn assembly,

16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation,

Assemble the elders,

Gather the children and the nursing infants.

Let the bridegroom come out of his room

And the bride out of her bridal chamber.