The priests, the LORD’s servants, should cry
between the altar and the entrance to the Temple.
They should say, “LORD, have mercy on your people.
Don’t let them be put to shame;
don’t let other nations make fun of them.
Don’t let people in other nations ask,
‘Where is their God?’ ”
Then the LORD became concerned about his land
and felt sorry for his people.
He said to them:
“I will send you grain, new wine, and olive oil,
so that you will have plenty.
No more will I shame you
among the nations.
I will force the army from the north to leave your land
and go into a dry, empty land.
Their soldiers in front will be forced into the Dead Sea,
and those in the rear into the Mediterranean Sea.
Their bodies will rot and stink.
The LORD has surely done a wonderful thing!”
Land, don’t be afraid;
be happy and full of joy,
because the LORD has done a wonderful thing.
Wild animals, don’t be afraid,
because the open pastures have grown grass.
The trees have given fruit;
the fig trees and the grapevines have grown much fruit.
So be happy, people of Jerusalem;
be joyful in the LORD your God.
Because he does what is right,
he has brought you rain;
he has sent the fall rain
and the spring rain for you, as before.
And the threshing floors will be full of grain;
the barrels will overflow with new wine and olive oil.
“Though I sent my great army against you—
those swarming locusts and hopping locusts,
the destroying locusts and the cutting locusts that ate your crops—
I will pay you back
for those years of trouble.
Then you will have plenty to eat
and be full.
You will praise the name of the LORD your God,
who has done miracles for you.
My people will never again be shamed.
Then you will know that I am among the people of Israel,
that I am the LORD your God,
and there is no other God.
My people will never be shamed again.
“After this,
I will pour out my Spirit on all kinds of people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your old men will dream dreams,
and your young men will see visions.
At that time I will pour out my Spirit
also on male slaves and female slaves.
I will show miracles
in the sky and on the earth:
blood, fire, and thick smoke.
The sun will become dark,
the moon red as blood,
before the overwhelming and terrible day of the LORD comes.
Then anyone who calls on the LORD
will be saved,
because on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem
there will be people who will be saved,
just as the LORD has said.
Those left alive after the day of punishment
are the people whom the LORD called.
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