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'Even
now,' declares the LORD, 'return to me with all your heart, with fasting
and weeping and mourning.' Rend your heart and not your garments. Return
to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to
anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. Who
knows? He may turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing-- grain
offerings and drink offerings for the LORD your God. Blow the trumpet in
Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly. Gather the people,
consecrate the assembly; bring together the elders, gather the children,
those nursing at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room and the
bride her chamber. Let the priests, who minister before the LORD, weep
between the temple porch and the altar. Let them say, 'Spare your
people, O LORD. Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn, a
byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, 'Where
is their God?'' Then the LORD will be jealous for his land and take pity
on his people. The LORD will reply to them: 'I am sending you grain, new
wine and oil, enough to satisfy you fully; never again will I make you
an object of scorn to the nations.
Joel 2:12-19(NIV) |