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12 “Yet even now,” says Yahweh, “turn to me with all your heart,
    and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning.”
13 Tear your heart, and not your garments,
    and turn to Yahweh, your God;
    for he is gracious and merciful,
    slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness,
    and relents from sending calamity.
14 Who knows? He may turn and relent,
    and leave a blessing behind him,
    even a meal offering and a drink offering to Yahweh, your God.
15 Blow the trumpet in Zion!
    Sanctify a fast.
    Call a solemn assembly.
16 Gather the people.
    Sanctify the assembly.
    Assemble the elders.
    Gather the children, and those who nurse from breasts.
Let the bridegroom go out of his room,
    and the bride out of her room.
17 Let the priests, the ministers of Yahweh, weep between the porch and the altar,
    and let them say, “Spare your people, Yahweh,
    and don’t give your heritage to reproach,
    that the nations should rule over them.
Why should they say among the peoples,
    ‘Where is their God?’”

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God’s Call for Repentance

12 Even now—
this is the Lord’s declaration—
turn to me with all your heart,(A)
with fasting, weeping, and mourning.(B)
13 Tear your hearts,(C)
not just your clothes,(D)
and return to the Lord your God.
For he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger, abounding in faithful love,
and he relents from sending disaster.(E)
14 Who knows? He may turn and relent(F)
and leave a blessing behind him,(G)
so you can offer a grain offering and a drink offering
to the Lord your God.(H)

15 Blow the ram’s horn in Zion!(I)
Announce a sacred fast;(J)
proclaim a solemn assembly.
16 Gather the people;
sanctify the congregation;(K)
assemble the aged;[a](L)
gather the infants,
even babies nursing at the breast.
Let the groom leave his bedroom,(M)
and the bride her honeymoon chamber.
17 Let the priests,(N) the Lord’s ministers,
weep between the portico and the altar.(O)
Let them say,
“Have pity on your people, Lord,(P)
and do not make your inheritance a disgrace,(Q)
an object of scorn among the nations.
Why should it be said among the peoples,
‘Where is their God?’” (R)

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Footnotes

  1. 2:16 Or elders