GOD’S CALL FOR REPENTANCE

12 Even now—

this is the Lord’s declaration—

turn to me with all your heart,ac

with fasting, weeping, and mourning.ad

13 Tear your hearts,ae

not just your clothes,af

and return to the Lord your God.

For he is gracious and compassionate,

slow to anger, abounding in faithful love,

and he relents from sending disaster.ag

14 Who knows? He may turn and relentah

and leave a blessing behind him,ai

so you can offer a grain offering and a drink offering

to the Lord your God.aj

15 Blow the trumpet in Zion!ak

Announce a sacred fast;al

proclaim a solemn assembly.

16 Gather the people;

sanctify the congregation;am

assemble the aged;B,an

gather the infants,

even babies nursing at the breast.

Let the groom leave his bedroom,ao

and the bride her honeymoon chamber.

17 Let the priests,ap the Lord’s ministers,

weep between the portico and the altar.aq

Let them say,

“Have pity on your people, Lord,ar

and do not make your inheritance a disgrace,a

an object of scorn among the nations.

Why should it be said among the peoples,

‘Where is their God?’ ”b

GOD’S RESPONSE TO HIS PEOPLE

18 Then the Lord became jealous for his landc and spared his people.d 19 The Lord answered his people:

Look, I am about to send you

grain, new wine, and fresh oil.e

You will be satiated with them,

and I will no longer make you

a disgrace among the nations.f

20 I will drive the northerner far from youg

and banish him to a dry and desolate land,

his front ranks into the Dead Sea,h

and his rear guard into the Mediterranean Sea.i

His stench will rise;

yes, his rotten smell will rise,j

for he has done astonishing things.

21 Don’t be afraid, land;k

rejoice and be glad,

for the Lord has done astonishing things.l

22 Don’t be afraid, wild animals,

for the wilderness pastures have turned green,m

the trees bear their fruit,

and the fig tree and grapevine yield their riches.

23 Children of Zion,n rejoice and be glad

in the Lord your God,o

because he gives you the autumn rain

for your vindication.A,p

He sends showers for you,

both autumn and spring rainq as before.

24 The threshing floors will be full of grain,r

and the vats will overflow

with new wine and fresh oil.

25 I will repay you for the years

that the swarming locust ate,s

the young locust, the destroying locust,

and the devouring locust—

my great army that I sent against you.

26 You will have plenty to eat and be satisfied.t

You will praise the name of the Lord your God,u

who has dealt wondrously with you.v

My people will never again be put to shame.w

27 You will know that I am present in Israelx

and that I am the Lord your God,

and there is no other.y

My people will never again be put to shame.z