6. In times to come Jacob will take root.Israel will blossom, bud,and fill the whole world with fruit.
7. Will the Lord hurt Israel as he hurt others who hurt them?Will he kill them as he killed others?
8. He punished Israel by sending it away.He removed it with a fierce blast from the east winds.
9. In this way the wrongdoings of the descendants of Jacob are covered up.This is the way they will turn from their sins—when they turn all the altar stones into powdered chalkand no poles dedicated to the goddess Asherahor incense altars are left standing.
10. The fortified city is isolated.The homestead is left deserted, abandoned like the desert.Calves will graze there.They will lie down.They will feed on the branches.