The Lord’s Answer

18 Then the Lord was jealousf for his land

and took pityg on his people.

19 The Lord replieda to them:

“I am sending you grain, new wineh and olive oil,i

enough to satisfy you fully;j

never again will I make you

an object of scornk to the nations.

20 “I will drive the northern hordel far from you,

pushing it into a parched and barren land;

its eastern ranks will drown in the Dead Sea

and its western ranks in the Mediterranean Sea.

And its stenchm will go up;

its smell will rise.”

Surely he has done great things!

21 Do not be afraid,n land of Judah;

be glad and rejoice.o

Surely the Lord has done great things!p

22 Do not be afraid, you wild animals,

for the pastures in the wilderness are becoming green.q

The trees are bearing their fruit;

the fig treer and the vines yield their riches.t

23 Be glad, people of Zion,

rejoiceu in the Lord your God,

for he has given you the autumn rains

because he is faithful.v

He sends you abundant showers,w

both autumnx and spring rains,y as before.

24 The threshing floors will be filled with grain;

the vats will overflowz with new winea and oil.

25 “I will repay you for the years the locustsb have eatenc—

the great locust and the young locust,

the other locusts and the locust swarmb—

my great armyd that I sent among you.

26 You will have plenty to eat, until you are full,e

and you will praisef the name of the Lord your God,

who has worked wondersg for you;

never again will my people be shamed.h