A Closing Prayer

7:12 In that day people31 will come to you32

from Assyria as far as33 Egypt,

from Egypt as far as the Euphrates River,34

from the seacoasts35 and the mountains.36

7:13 The earth will become desolate37

because of what its inhabitants have done.38

7:14 Shepherd your people with your shepherd’s rod,39

the flock that belongs to you,40

the one that lives alone in a thicket,

in the midst of a pastureland.41

Allow them to graze in Bashan and Gilead,42

as they did in the old days.43

7:15 “As in the days when you departed from the land of Egypt,

I will show you44 miraculous deeds.”45

7:16 Nations will see this and be disappointed by46 all their strength,

they will put their hands over their mouths,

and act as if they were deaf.47

7:17 They will lick the dust like a snake,

like serpents crawling on the ground.48

They will come trembling from their strongholds

to the Lord our God;49

they will be terrified50 of you.51

7:18 There is no other God like you!52

You53 forgive sin

and pardon54 the rebellion

of those who remain among your people.55

You do not remain angry forever,56

but delight in showing loyal love.

7:19 You will once again57 have mercy on us;

you will conquer58 our evil deeds;

you will hurl our59 sins into the depths of the sea.60

7:20 You will be loyal to Jacob

and extend your loyal love to Abraham,61

which you promised on oath to our ancestors62

in ancient times.63