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The Lord’s Love for Unfaithful Israel

14 “But then I will win her back once again.
    I will lead her into the desert
    and speak tenderly to her there.

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14 “Therefore I am now going to allure her;
    I will lead her into the wilderness(A)
    and speak tenderly to her.

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Comfort for God’s People

40 “Comfort, comfort my people,”
    says your God.
“Speak tenderly to Jerusalem.
Tell her that her sad days are gone
    and her sins are pardoned.
Yes, the Lord has punished her twice over
    for all her sins.”

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Comfort for God’s People

40 Comfort, comfort(A) my people,
    says your God.
Speak tenderly(B) to Jerusalem,
    and proclaim to her
that her hard service(C) has been completed,(D)
    that her sin has been paid for,(E)
that she has received from the Lord’s hand
    double(F) for all her sins.

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35 I will bring you into the wilderness of the nations, and there I will judge you face to face. 36 I will judge you there just as I did your ancestors in the wilderness after bringing them out of Egypt, says the Sovereign Lord.

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35 I will bring you into the wilderness(A) of the nations and there, face to face, I will execute judgment(B) upon you. 36 As I judged your ancestors in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will judge you, declares the Sovereign Lord.(C)

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And the woman fled into the wilderness, where God had prepared a place to care for her for 1,260 days.

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The woman fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days.(A)

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Blessings for the Lord’s People

18 So the Lord must wait for you to come to him
    so he can show you his love and compassion.
For the Lord is a faithful God.
    Blessed are those who wait for his help.

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18 Yet the Lord longs(A) to be gracious to you;
    therefore he will rise up to show you compassion.(B)
For the Lord is a God of justice.(C)
    Blessed are all who wait for him!(D)

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14 But she was given two wings like those of a great eagle so she could fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness. There she would be cared for and protected from the dragon[a] for a time, times, and half a time.

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Footnotes

  1. 12:14 Greek the serpent; also in 12:15. See 12:9.

14 The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle,(A) so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time,(B) out of the serpent’s reach.

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But then he fell in love with her, and he tried to win her affection with tender words.

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His heart was drawn to Dinah(A) daughter of Jacob;(B) he loved(C) the young woman and spoke tenderly(D) to her.

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26 And so all Israel will be saved. As the Scriptures say,

“The one who rescues will come from Jerusalem,[a]
    and he will turn Israel[b] away from ungodliness.
27 And this is my covenant with them,
    that I will take away their sins.”[c]

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Footnotes

  1. 11:26a Greek from Zion.
  2. 11:26b Greek Jacob.
  3. 11:26-27 Isa 59:20-21; 27:9 (Greek version).

26 and in this way[a] all Israel will be saved.(A) As it is written:

“The deliverer will come from Zion;
    he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
27 And this is[b] my covenant with them
    when I take away their sins.”[c](B)

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 11:26 Or and so
  2. Romans 11:27 Or will be
  3. Romans 11:27 Isaiah 59:20,21; 27:9 (see Septuagint); Jer. 31:33,34

44 For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up.

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44 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them,(A) and I will raise them up at the last day.

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19 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: The traditional fasts and times of mourning you have kept in early summer, midsummer, autumn, and winter[a] are now ended. They will become festivals of joy and celebration for the people of Judah. So love truth and peace.

20 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: People from nations and cities around the world will travel to Jerusalem. 21 The people of one city will say to the people of another, ‘Come with us to Jerusalem to ask the Lord to bless us. Let’s worship the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. I’m determined to go.’ 22 Many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord of Heaven’s Armies and to ask for his blessing.

23 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: In those days ten men from different nations and languages of the world will clutch at the sleeve of one Jew. And they will say, ‘Please let us walk with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’”

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Footnotes

  1. 8:19 Hebrew in the fourth, fifth, seventh, and tenth months. The fourth month of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar usually occurs within the months of June and July. The fifth month usually occurs within the months of July and August. The seventh month usually occurs within the months of September and October. The tenth month usually occurs within the months of December and January.

19 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “The fasts of the fourth,(A) fifth,(B) seventh(C) and tenth(D) months will become joyful(E) and glad occasions and happy festivals for Judah. Therefore love truth(F) and peace.”

20 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Many peoples and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come, 21 and the inhabitants of one city will go to another and say, ‘Let us go at once to entreat(G) the Lord and seek(H) the Lord Almighty. I myself am going.’ 22 And many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord Almighty and to entreat him.”(I)

23 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “In those days ten people from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, ‘Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.’”(J)

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12 Upon hearing this, the angel of the Lord prayed this prayer: “O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, for seventy years now you have been angry with Jerusalem and the towns of Judah. How long until you again show mercy to them?” 13 And the Lord spoke kind and comforting words to the angel who talked with me.

14 Then the angel said to me, “Shout this message for all to hear: ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: My love for Jerusalem and Mount Zion is passionate and strong. 15 But I am very angry with the other nations that are now enjoying peace and security. I was only a little angry with my people, but the nations inflicted harm on them far beyond my intentions.

16 “‘Therefore, this is what the Lord says: I have returned to show mercy to Jerusalem. My Temple will be rebuilt, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, and measurements will be taken for the reconstruction of Jerusalem.[a]

17 “Say this also: ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: The towns of Israel will again overflow with prosperity, and the Lord will again comfort Zion and choose Jerusalem as his own.’”

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Footnotes

  1. 1:16 Hebrew and the measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem.

12 Then the angel of the Lord said, “Lord Almighty, how long(A) will you withhold mercy(B) from Jerusalem and from the towns of Judah,(C) which you have been angry with these seventy(D) years?” 13 So the Lord spoke(E) kind and comforting words(F) to the angel who talked with me.(G)

14 Then the angel who was speaking to me said, “Proclaim this word: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘I am very jealous(H) for Jerusalem and Zion, 15 and I am very angry with the nations that feel secure.(I) I was only a little angry,(J) but they went too far with the punishment.’(K)

16 “Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘I will return(L) to Jerusalem with mercy, and there my house will be rebuilt. And the measuring line(M) will be stretched out over Jerusalem,’ declares the Lord Almighty.(N)

17 “Proclaim further: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘My towns will again overflow with prosperity, and the Lord will again comfort(O) Zion and choose(P) Jerusalem.’”(Q)

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“Then I will purify the speech of all people,
    so that everyone can worship the Lord together.
10 My scattered people who live beyond the rivers of Ethiopia[a]
    will come to present their offerings.
11 On that day you will no longer need to be ashamed,
    for you will no longer be rebels against me.
I will remove all proud and arrogant people from among you.
    There will be no more haughtiness on my holy mountain.
12 Those who are left will be the lowly and humble,
    for it is they who trust in the name of the Lord.
13 The remnant of Israel will do no wrong;
    they will never tell lies or deceive one another.
They will eat and sleep in safety,
    and no one will make them afraid.”

14 Sing, O daughter of Zion;
    shout aloud, O Israel!
Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,
    O daughter of Jerusalem!
15 For the Lord will remove his hand of judgment
    and will disperse the armies of your enemy.
And the Lord himself, the King of Israel,
    will live among you!
At last your troubles will be over,
    and you will never again fear disaster.
16 On that day the announcement to Jerusalem will be,
    “Cheer up, Zion! Don’t be afraid!
17 For the Lord your God is living among you.
    He is a mighty savior.
He will take delight in you with gladness.
    With his love, he will calm all your fears.[b]
    He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”

18 “I will gather you who mourn for the appointed festivals;
    you will be disgraced no more.[c]
19 And I will deal severely with all who have oppressed you.
    I will save the weak and helpless ones;
I will bring together
    those who were chased away.
I will give glory and fame to my former exiles,
    wherever they have been mocked and shamed.
20 On that day I will gather you together
    and bring you home again.
I will give you a good name, a name of distinction,
    among all the nations of the earth,
as I restore your fortunes before their very eyes.
    I, the Lord, have spoken!”

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Footnotes

  1. 3:10 Hebrew Cush.
  2. 3:17 Or He will be silent in his love. Greek and Syriac versions read He will renew you with his love.
  3. 3:18 The meaning of the Hebrew for this verse is uncertain.

Restoration of Israel’s Remnant

“Then I will purify the lips of the peoples,
    that all of them may call(A) on the name of the Lord(B)
    and serve(C) him shoulder to shoulder.
10 From beyond the rivers of Cush[a](D)
    my worshipers, my scattered people,
    will bring me offerings.(E)
11 On that day you, Jerusalem, will not be put to shame(F)
    for all the wrongs you have done to me,(G)
because I will remove from you
    your arrogant boasters.(H)
Never again will you be haughty
    on my holy hill.(I)
12 But I will leave within you
    the meek(J) and humble.
The remnant of Israel
    will trust(K) in the name of the Lord.
13 They(L) will do no wrong;(M)
    they will tell no lies.(N)
A deceitful tongue
    will not be found in their mouths.(O)
They will eat and lie down(P)
    and no one will make them afraid.(Q)

14 Sing, Daughter Zion;(R)
    shout aloud,(S) Israel!
Be glad and rejoice(T) with all your heart,
    Daughter Jerusalem!
15 The Lord has taken away your punishment,
    he has turned back your enemy.
The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you;(U)
    never again will you fear(V) any harm.(W)
16 On that day
    they will say to Jerusalem,
“Do not fear, Zion;
    do not let your hands hang limp.(X)
17 The Lord your God is with you,
    the Mighty Warrior who saves.(Y)
He will take great delight(Z) in you;
    in his love he will no longer rebuke you,(AA)
    but will rejoice over you with singing.”(AB)

18 “I will remove from you
    all who mourn over the loss of your appointed festivals,
    which is a burden and reproach for you.
19 At that time I will deal
    with all who oppressed(AC) you.
I will rescue the lame;
    I will gather the exiles.(AD)
I will give them praise(AE) and honor
    in every land where they have suffered shame.
20 At that time I will gather you;
    at that time I will bring(AF) you home.
I will give you honor(AG) and praise(AH)
    among all the peoples of the earth
when I restore your fortunes[b](AI)
    before your very eyes,”
says the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. Zephaniah 3:10 That is, the upper Nile region
  2. Zephaniah 3:20 Or I bring back your captives

The Lord’s Compassion on Israel

14 O Lord, protect your people with your shepherd’s staff;
    lead your flock, your special possession.
Though they live alone in a thicket
    on the heights of Mount Carmel,[a]
let them graze in the fertile pastures of Bashan and Gilead
    as they did long ago.

15 “Yes,” says the Lord,
    “I will do mighty miracles for you,
like those I did when I rescued you
    from slavery in Egypt.”

16 All the nations of the world will stand amazed
    at what the Lord will do for you.
They will be embarrassed
    at their feeble power.
They will cover their mouths in silent awe,
    deaf to everything around them.
17 Like snakes crawling from their holes,
    they will come out to meet the Lord our God.
They will fear him greatly,
    trembling in terror at his presence.

18 Where is another God like you,
    who pardons the guilt of the remnant,
    overlooking the sins of his special people?
You will not stay angry with your people forever,
    because you delight in showing unfailing love.
19 Once again you will have compassion on us.
    You will trample our sins under your feet
    and throw them into the depths of the ocean!
20 You will show us your faithfulness and unfailing love
    as you promised to our ancestors Abraham and Jacob long ago.

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Footnotes

  1. 7:14 Or surrounded by a fruitful land.

Prayer and Praise

14 Shepherd(A) your people with your staff,(B)
    the flock of your inheritance,
which lives by itself in a forest,
    in fertile pasturelands.[a](C)
Let them feed in Bashan(D) and Gilead(E)
    as in days long ago.(F)

15 “As in the days when you came out of Egypt,
    I will show them my wonders.(G)

16 Nations will see and be ashamed,(H)
    deprived of all their power.
They will put their hands over their mouths(I)
    and their ears will become deaf.
17 They will lick dust(J) like a snake,
    like creatures that crawl on the ground.
They will come trembling(K) out of their dens;
    they will turn in fear(L) to the Lord our God
    and will be afraid of you.
18 Who is a God(M) like you,
    who pardons sin(N) and forgives(O) the transgression
    of the remnant(P) of his inheritance?(Q)
You do not stay angry(R) forever
    but delight to show mercy.(S)
19 You will again have compassion on us;
    you will tread our sins underfoot
    and hurl all our iniquities(T) into the depths of the sea.(U)
20 You will be faithful to Jacob,
    and show love to Abraham,(V)
as you pledged on oath to our ancestors(W)
    in days long ago.(X)

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Footnotes

  1. Micah 7:14 Or in the middle of Carmel