16. Gather the people,Sanctify the congregation,Assemble the elders,Gather the children and nursing babes;Let the bridegroom go out from his chamber,And the bride from her dressing room.
17. Let the priests, who minister to the Lord,Weep between the porch and the altar;Let them say, “Spare Your people, O Lord,And do not give Your heritage to reproach,That the nations should rule over them.Why should they say among the peoples,‘Where is their God?’ ”
18. Then the Lord will be zealous for His land,And pity His people.
19. The Lord will answer and say to His people,“Behold, I will send you grain and new wine and oil,And you will be satisfied by them;I will no longer make you a reproach among the nations.
20. “But I will remove far from you the northern army,And will drive him away into a barren and desolate land,With his face toward the eastern seaAnd his back toward the western sea;His stench will come up,And his foul odor will rise,Because he has done monstrous things.”
21. Fear not, O land;Be glad and rejoice,For the Lord has done marvelous things!
22. Do not be afraid, you beasts of the field;For the open pastures are springing up,And the tree bears its fruit;The fig tree and the vine yield their strength.
23. Be glad then, you children of Zion,And rejoice in the Lord your God;For He has given you the former rain faithfully,And He will cause the rain to come down for you—The former rain,And the latter rain in the first month.