They will inquire concerning Zion with their faces turned toward it, saying, ‘Y’all must come and join with YHWH in an everlasting covenant that will not be forgotten.’
Now therefore let’s make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives and those who are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God. Let it be done according to the law.
I will give those who have transgressed my covenant, who have not performed the words of the covenant which they made before me when they cut the calf in two and passed between its parts:
Recently, y’all repented and did what is right in my eyes, in every person proclaiming liberty to their neighbor. Y’all had made a covenant before me in the house which is called by my name,
Notwithstanding, YHWH didn’t turn from the fierceness of his great wrath, with which his anger burned against Judah, because of all the provocation with which Manasseh had provoked him.
The king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before YHWH to walk after YHWH and to keep his commandments, his testimonies, and his statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to confirm the words of this covenant that were written in this book; and all the people agreed to the covenant.
Now y’all must not be stiff-necked like y’all’s ancestors were, but submit your* hand to YHWH. Y’all are to enter into ʜɪꜱ sanctuary, which ʜᴇ has sanctified forever, and serve YHWH y’all’s God, so that ʜɪꜱ burning anger may turn away from y’all.
Now let our princes be appointed for all the assembly, and let all those who are in our cities who have married foreign women come at appointed times, and with them the elders of every city and its judges, until the fierce wrath of our God is turned from us, until this matter is resolved.”
They raised over him a great heap of stones that remains to this day. YHWH turned from the fierceness of his anger. Therefore the name of that place was called “The valley of Achor” to this day.
Then Ezra blessed YHWH, the great God. All the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” with the lifting up of their hands. They bowed their heads, and worshiped YHWH with their faces to the ground.
Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, ‘Return, backsliding Israel,’ says YHWH, ‘I will not look in anger on y’all, for I am merciful,’ says YHWH. ‘I will not stay angry forever.