16. Gather the people;prepare a holy meeting;assemble the elders;gather the children,even nursing infants.Let the groom leave his roomand the bride her chamber.
17. Between the porch and the altarlet the priests, the Lord’s ministers, weep.Let them say, "Have mercy, Lord, on your people,and don’t make your inheritance a disgrace,an example of failure among the nations.Why should they say among the peoples,‘Where is their God?’"
18. Then the Lord became passionate about this land, and had pity on his people.
19. The Lord responded to the people:See, I am sending youthe corn, new wine, and fresh oil,and you will be fully satisfied by it;and I will no longer make youa disgrace among the nations.
20. I will remove the northern army far from youand drive it into a dried-up and desolate land,its front into the eastern sea,and its rear into the western sea.Its stench will rise up;its stink will come to the surface.The Lord is about to do great things!
21. Don’t fear, fertile land;rejoice and be glad,for the Lord is about to do great things!
22. Don’t be afraid, animals of the field,for the meadows of the wilderness will turn green;the tree will bear its fruit;the fig tree and grapevine will give their full yield.