"Then I will giveher her vineyardsfrom there,And the valleyof Achoras a doorof hope.And she will singthereas in the daysof her youth,As in the daywhen she cameup from the landof Egypt.
"They will livein it securely;and they will buildhouses,plantvineyardsand livesecurelywhen I executejudgmentsupon allwho scornthem roundaboutthem. Then they will knowthat I am the LORDtheir God."'"
"Goand proclaimin the earsof Jerusalem,saying,'Thussaysthe LORD,"I rememberconcerning you the devotionof your youth,The loveof your betrothals,Your followingafterMe in the wilderness,Through a landnot sown.
WhenIsrael[was] a youthI lovedhim, And out of EgyptI calledMy son.
They raisedoverhim a greatheapof stonesthat stands to thisday,and the LORDturnedfrom the fiercenessof His anger.Thereforethe nameof that placehas been calledthe valleyof Achorto thisday.
When they had arrivedand gatheredthe churchtogether,they [began] to reportall thingsthat Godhad donewith them and howHe had openeda doorof faithto the Gentiles.
"I amthe door;ifanyoneentersthroughMe, he will be saved,and will goin and out and findpasture.
"Also I will restorethe captivityof My peopleIsrael,And they will rebuildthe ruinedcitiesand live[in them]; They will also plantvineyardsand drinktheir wine,And makegardensand eattheir fruit.
"Nevertheless, I will rememberMy covenantwith you in the daysof your youth,and I will establishan everlastingcovenantwith you.
"Besidesallyour abominationsand harlotriesyou did not rememberthe daysof your youth,when you were nakedand bareand squirmingin your blood.
"Then I passedby you and sawyou, and behold,you were at the timefor love;so I spreadMy skirtoveryou and coveredyour nakedness.I also sworeto you and enteredinto a covenantwith you so that you becameMine," declaresthe LordGOD.
"They will buildhousesand inhabit[them]; They will also plantvineyardsand eattheir fruit.
Returnto the stronghold,O prisonerswho have the hope;This verydayI am declaringthat I will restoredoubleto you.
ThisI recallto my mind,ThereforeI havehope.
For thussaysthe LORDof hosts,the Godof Israel,"Housesand fieldsand vineyardswill againbe boughtin thisland."'
Then they believedHis words;They sangHis praise.
ThenIsraelsangthissong:"Springup, O well!Singto it!
But I [have been] the LORDyour Godsincethe landof Egypt;I will make you livein tentsagain,As in the daysof the appointedfestival.
"Sharonwill be a pasturelandfor flocks,And the valleyof Achora restingplacefor herds,For My peoplewhoseekMe.
"I will destroyher vinesand figtrees,Of whichshe said,'Theseare my wagesWhichmy lovershave givenme.' And I will makethem a forest,And the beastsof the fieldwill devourthem.
"Manytimesthey have persecutedme from my youthup," Let Israelnowsay,
Now the wordof the LORDcameto me saying,
"Have you not just nowcalledto Me, 'My Father,You are the friendof my youth?
For I knowthe plansthat I havefor you,' declaresthe LORD,'plansfor welfareand not for calamityto giveyou a futureand a hope.
Thussaysthe LordGOD,"When I gatherthe houseof Israelfrom the peoplesamong whomthey are scattered,and will manifestMy holinessin them in the sightof the nations,then they will livein their landwhichI gaveto My servantJacob.
But by a prophetthe LORDbroughtIsraelfrom Egypt,And by a prophethe was kept.
Yet I [have been] the LORDyour GodSincethe landof Egypt;And you were not to knowany godexceptMe, For thereis nosaviorbesidesMe.
Thus the sonsof Israeldid not rememberthe LORDtheir God,who had deliveredthem from the handsof alltheir enemieson everyside;
It cameabout, as though it had been a trivialthingfor him to walkin the sinsof Jeroboamthe sonof Nebat,that he marriedJezebelthe daughterof Ethbaalkingof the Sidonians,and wentto serveBaaland worshipedhim.
