Hosea 14; Joel 2:11-27; Micah 7:18-20

1 Yisra'el, return to the LORD your God; For you have fallen because of your sin.

2 Take words with you, and return to the LORD. Tell him, "Forgive all our sins, And accept that which is good: So we offer like bulls our lips.

3 Ashshur can't save us. We won't ride on horses; Neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, 'Our gods!' For in you the fatherless finds mercy."

4 "I will heal their waywardness. I will love them freely; For my anger is turned away from him.

5 I will be like the dew to Yisra'el. He will blossom like the lily, And send down his roots like Levanon.

6 His branches will spread, And his beauty will be like the olive tree, And his fragrance like Levanon.

7 Men will dwell in his shade. They will revive like the grain, And blossom like the vine. Their fragrance will be like the wine of Levanon.

8 Efrayim, what have I to do any more with idols? I answer, and will take care of him. I am like a green fir tree; From me your fruit is found."

9 Who is wise, that he may understand these things? Who is prudent, that he may know them? For the ways of the LORD are right, And the righteous walk in them; But the rebellious stumble in them.

11 The LORD thunders his voice before his army; For his forces are very great; For he is strong who obeys his command; For the day of the LORD is great and very awesome, And who can endure it?

12 "Yet even now," says the LORD, "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 the LORD, your God; For he is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness, 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 the LORD, your God.

15 Blow the shofar in Tziyon! Sanctify a fast. Call a solemn assembly.

16 Gather the people. Sanctify the assembly. Assemble the Zakenim. Gather the children, and those who suck the breasts. Let the bridegroom go forth from his room, And the bride out of her chamber.

17 Let the Kohanim, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, And let them say, "Spare your people, LORD, 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?'"

18 Then the LORD was jealous for his land, And had pity on his people.

19 The LORD answered his people, "Behold, I will send you grain, new wine, and oil, And you will be satisfied with them; And I will no more make you a reproach among the nations.

20 But I will remove the northern army far away from you, And will drive it into a barren and desolate land, Its front into the eastern sea, And its back into the western sea; And its stench will come up, And its bad smell will rise." Surely he has done great things.

21 Land, don't be afraid. Be glad and rejoice, for the LORD has done great things.

22 Don't be afraid, you animals of the field; For the pastures of the wilderness spring up, For the tree bears its fruit. The fig tree and the vine yield their strength.

23 "Be glad then, you children of Tziyon, And rejoice in the LORD, your God; For he gives you the former rain in just measure, And he causes the rain to come down for you, The former rain and the latter rain, As before.

24 The threshing floors will be full of wheat, And the vats will overflow with new wine and oil.

25 I will restore to you the years that the swarming arbeh has eaten, The great arbeh, the khagav, and the caterpillar, My great army, which I sent among you.

26 You will have plenty to eat, and be satisfied, And will praise the name of the LORD, your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you; And my people will never again be put to shame.

27 You will know that I am in the midst of Yisra'el, And that I am the LORD, your God, and there is no one else; And my people will never again be put to shame.

18 Who is a God like you, who pardons iniquity, And passes over the disobedience of the remnant of his heritage? He doesn't retain his anger forever, Because he delights in lovingkindness.

19 He will again have compassion on us. He will tread our iniquities under foot; And you will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

20 You will give truth to Ya`akov, and mercy to Avraham, As you have sworn to our fathers from the days of old.