¹² “Yet even now,” declares Yahweh,
“^(A)Return to Me with all your heart
And with ^(B)fasting, weeping, and ^[a]wailing;
¹³ And ^(C)tear your heart and not ^(D)your garments.”
Now return to Yahweh your God,
For He is ^(E)gracious and compassionate,
Slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness,
And ^(F)relenting concerning evil.
¹⁴ Who knows ^(G)whether He will not turn and relent
And leave a ^(H)blessing behind Him,
Even ^(I)a grain offering and a drink offering
For Yahweh your God?
^15 (J)Blow a trumpet in Zion,
^(K)Set apart a fast as holy, call for a solemn assembly,
¹⁶ Gather the people, ^(L)set apart the congregation as holy,
Assemble the elders,
Gather the infants and the nursing babies.
Let the ^(M)bridegroom come out of his room
And the bride out of her bridal chamber.
¹⁷ Let the priests, the ministers of Yahweh,
Weep ^(N)between the porch and the altar,
And let them say, “^(O)Pity Your people, O Yahweh,
And do not make Your inheritance a ^(P)reproach,
A byword among the nations.
Why should they among the peoples say,
‘^(Q)Where is their God?’”