⁴ “In those days and at that time”
—it is a declaration of Adonai—
“the children of Israel will come,
together with the children of Judah,
weeping as they come,
and will seek Adonai their God.
⁵ They will ask about Zion, the way—
here are their faces! Come!
They will join themselves to Adonai
in an everlasting covenant
that will never be forgotten.^[a]
6 My people have been lost sheep.^[b]
Their shepherds led them astray.
Turning around in the mountains,
they went from mountain to hill,
and forgot their resting place.
⁷ Everyone finding them devoured them.
Their foes said: ‘We’re not guilty!’
Instead, they sinned against Adonai,
the habitation of justice—
Adonai, the hope of their fathers.”

⁸ “Flee from within Babylon,^[c]
get out of the land of the Chaldeans,
and be like he-goats before the flock.

¹⁷ Israel is a scattered flock—
lions have driven them away.
First, Assyria’s king devoured him.
This last one who broke his bones
was King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.
¹⁸ Therefore thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot,
the God of Israel:
“Indeed, I will punish Babylon’s king and his land,
just as I punished Assyria’s king.
¹⁹ I will bring Israel back to his pasture.
He will feed on Carmel and Bashan,
and his soul will be satisfied on the hills of Ephraim and Gilead.
²⁰ In those days and in that time”
—it is a declaration of Adonai—
“Israel’s guilt will be sought,
but there will be none,
also for the sins of Judah,
but they will not be found.
For I will pardon those whom I leave as a remnant.

³³ Thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot:
“The children of Israel and the children of Judah
are oppressed together.
All their captors hold them fast.
They refused to let them go.

³⁴ Their Redeemer is strong
—Adonai-Tzva’ot is His Name—
He will vigorously plead their case,
so He may give rest to the earth,
but trembling to the Babylonians.