7-11. The invaders charge.They climb barricades. Nothing stops them.Each soldier does what he’s told,so disciplined, so determined.They don’t get in each other’s way.Each one knows his job and does it.Undaunted and fearless,unswerving, unstoppable.They storm the city,swarm its defenses,Loot the houses,breaking down doors, smashing windows.They arrive like an earthquake,sweep through like a tornado.Sun and moon turn out their lights,stars black out.God himself bellows in thunderas he commands his forces.Look at the size of that army!And the strength of those who obey him!God’s Judgment Day—great and terrible.Who can possibly survive this?
12. But there’s also this, it’s not too late—God’s personal Message!—“Come back to me and really mean it!Come fasting and weeping, sorry for your sins!”
13-14. Change your life, not just your clothes.Come back to God, your God.And here’s why: God is kind and merciful.He takes a deep breath, puts up with a lot,This most patient God, extravagant in love,always ready to cancel catastrophe.Who knows? Maybe he’ll do it now,maybe he’ll turn around and show pity.Maybe, when all’s said and done,there’ll be blessings full and robust for your God!
15-17. Blow the ram’s horn trumpet in Zion!Declare a day of repentance, a holy fast day.Call a public meeting.Get everyone there. Consecrate the congregation.Make sure the elders come,but bring in the children, too, even the nursing babies,Even men and women on their honeymoon—interrupt them and get them there.Between Sanctuary entrance and altar,let the priests, God’s servants, weep tears of repentance.Let them intercede: “Have mercy, God, on your people!Don’t abandon your heritage to contempt.Don’t let the pagans take over and rule themand sneer, ‘And so where is this God of theirs?’”
18-20. At that, God went into action to get his land back.He took pity on his people.God answered and spoke to his people,“Look, listen—I’m sending a gift:Grain and wine and olive oil.The fast is over—eat your fill!I won’t expose you any longerto contempt among the pagans.I’ll head off the final enemy coming out of the northand dump them in a wasteland.Half of them will end up in the Dead Sea,the other half in the Mediterranean.There they’ll rot, a stench to high heaven.The bigger the enemy, the stronger the stench!”