¹² “Yet even now,” declares the Lord,
“^(A)Return to Me with all your heart,
And with ^(B)fasting, weeping, and mourning;
¹³ And ^(C)tear your heart and not merely ^(D)your garments.”
Now return to the Lord your God,
For He is ^(E)gracious and compassionate,
Slow to anger, abounding in mercy
And ^(F)relenting of catastrophe.
¹⁴ Who knows, ^(G)He might turn and relent,
And leave a ^(H)blessing behind Him,
Resulting in ^(I)a grain offering and a drink offering
For the Lord your God.
^15 (J)Blow a trumpet in Zion,
^(K)Consecrate a fast, proclaim a solemn assembly,
¹⁶ Gather the people, ^(L)sanctify the congregation,
Assemble the elders,
Gather the children and the nursing infants.
Have the ^(M)groom come out of his room
And the bride out of her bridal chamber.
¹⁷ Let the priests, the Lord’s ministers,
Weep ^(N)between the porch and the altar,
And let them say, “^[a](O)Spare Your people, Lord,
And do not make Your inheritance a ^(P)disgrace,
With the nations jeering at them.
Why should those among the peoples say,
‘^(Q)Where is their God?’”