A Closing Prayer

12 In that day people will come to you

from Assyria as far as Egypt,

from Egypt as far as the Euphrates River,

from the seacoasts and the mountains.

13 The earth will become desolate

because of what its inhabitants have done.

14 Shepherd your people with your shepherd’s rod,

the flock that belongs to you,

the one that lives alone in a thicket,

in the midst of a pastureland.

Allow them to graze in Bashan and Gilead,

as they did in the old days.

15 “As in the days when you departed from the land of Egypt,

I will show you miraculous deeds.”

16 Nations will see this and be disappointed by all their strength,

they will put their hands over their mouths,

and act as if they were deaf.

17 They will lick the dust like a snake,

like serpents crawling on the ground.

They will come trembling from their strongholds

to the Lord our God;

they will be terrified of you.

18 There is no other God like you!

You forgive sin

and pardon the rebellion

of those who remain among your people.

You do not remain angry forever,

but delight in showing loyal love.

19 You will once again have mercy on us;

you will conquer our evil deeds;

you will hurl our sins into the depths of the sea.

20 You will be loyal to Jacob

and extend your loyal love to Abraham,

which you promised on oath to our ancestors

in ancient times.