13. Tearing your clothes is not enough to show you are sad.Let your heart be broken.Come back to the Lord your God.He is kind and shows mercy.He doesn’t become angry quickly.He has great love.He would rather forgive than punish.
14. Who knows? Maybe the Lord will change his mindand leave behind a blessing for you.Then you may give grain and drink offeringsto the Lord your God.
15. Blow the trumpet in Jerusalem.Call for a special time of going without food.Call for a special meeting.
16. Bring the people together.Make the meeting holy for the Lord.Bring together the elders.Bring together the children,even babies that still feed at their mothers’ breasts.The bridegroom should come from his room.The bride should come from her bedroom.
17. The priests, the Lord’s servants, should cry.They should cry between the altar and entrance to the Temple.They should say, “Lord, have mercy on your people.Don’t let them be put to shame.Don’t let other nations make fun of them.Don’t let people in other nations ask,‘Where is their God?’”
18. Then the Lord became concerned about his land.He felt sorry for his people.