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.
23. Children of Zion,rejoice and be glad in the Lord your God,because he will give you the early rain as a sign of righteousness;he will pour down abundant rain for you,the early and the late rain, as before.
24. The threshing floors will be full of grain;the vats will overflow with new wine and fresh oil.
25. I will repay you for the yearsthat the cutting locust,the swarming locust, the hopping locust, and the devouring locust have eaten—my great army, which I sent against you.
26. You will eat abundantly and be satisfied,and you will praise the name of the Lord your God,who has done wonders for you;and my people will never again be put to shame.
27. You will know that I am in the midst of Israel,and that I am the Lord your God—no other exists;never again will my people be put to shame.