Study Desk

But the people of Israel have bitterly provoked the Lord , so their Lord will now sentence them to death in payment for their sins.

When the tribe of Ephraim spoke, the people shook with fear, for that tribe was important in Israel. But the people of Ephraim sinned by worshiping Baal and thus sealed their destruction.

"I have been the Lord your God ever since I brought you out of Egypt. You must acknowledge no God but me, for there is no other savior.

"Ephraim's guilt has been collected, and his sin has been stored up for punishment.

"Should I ransom them from the grave? Should I redeem them from death? O death, bring on your terrors! O grave, bring on your plagues! For I will not take pity on them.

Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, for your sins have brought you down.

The Lord says, "Then I will heal you of your faithlessness; my love will know no bounds, for my anger will be gone forever.

"O Israel, stay away from idols! I am the one who answers your prayers and cares for you. I am like a tree that is always green; all your fruit comes from me."

For there is no grain or wine to offer at the Temple of the Lord . So the priests are in mourning. The ministers of the Lord are weeping.

Dress yourselves in burlap and weep, you priests! Wail, you who serve before the altar! Come, spend the night in burlap, you ministers of my God. For there is no grain or wine to offer at the Temple of your God.

Announce a time of fasting; call the people together for a solemn meeting. Bring the leaders and all the people of the land into the Temple of the Lord your God, and cry out to him there.

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.

Blow the ram's horn in Jerusalem! Announce a time of fasting; call the people together for a solemn meeting.

Let the priests, who minister in the Lord 's presence, stand and weep between the entry room to the Temple and the altar. Let them pray, "Spare your people, Lord ! Don't let your special possession become an object of mockery. Don't let them become a joke for unbelieving foreigners who say, ‘Has the God of Israel left them?'"

Don't be afraid, O land. Be glad now and rejoice, for the Lord has done great things.

Don't be afraid, you animals of the field, for the wilderness pastures will soon be green. The trees will again be filled with fruit; fig trees and grapevines will be loaded down once more.

Rejoice, you people of Jerusalem! Rejoice in the Lord your God! For the rain he sends demonstrates his faithfulness. Once more the autumn rains will come, as well as the rains of spring.

Once again you will have all the food you want, and you will praise the Lord your God, who does these miracles for you. Never again will my people be disgraced.

But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved, for some on Mount Zion in Jerusalem will escape, just as the Lord has said. These will be among the survivors whom the Lord has called.

I will gather the armies of the world into the valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will judge them for harming my people, my special possession, for scattering my people among the nations, and for dividing up my land.