A time is coming when the people of Israel who have survived will not rely any more on the nation that almost destroyed them. They will truly put their trust in the LORD, Israel's holy God.

A few of the people of Israel will come back to their mighty God.

The LORD will punish the Egyptians, but then he will heal them. They will turn to him, and he will hear their prayers and heal them.

you built a reservoir inside the city to hold the water flowing down from the old pool. But you paid no attention to God, who planned all this long ago and who caused it to happen.

Those who survive will sing for joy. Those in the West will tell how great the LORD is,

and those in the East will praise him. The people who live along the sea will praise the LORD, the God of Israel.

When that day comes, the deaf will be able to hear a book being read aloud, and the blind, who have been living in darkness, will open their eyes and see.

Poor and humble people will once again find the happiness which the LORD, the holy God of Israel, gives.

Foolish people will learn to understand, and those who are always grumbling will be glad to be taught."

But the people of Israel said to the LORD, "We have sinned. Do whatever you like, but please, save us today."

So they got rid of their foreign gods and worshiped the LORD; and he became troubled over Israel's distress.

The messengers went to every city in the territory of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, and as far north as the tribe of Zebulun, but people laughed at them and made fun of them.

Still, there were some from the tribes of Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun who were willing to come to Jerusalem.

In addition, many of those who had come from the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun had not performed the ritual of purification, and so they were observing Passover improperly. King Hezekiah offered this prayer for them:

The LORD answered Hezekiah's prayer; he forgave the people and did not harm them.

After the festival ended, all the people of Israel went to every city in Judah and broke the stone pillars, cut down the symbols of the goddess Asherah, and destroyed the altars and the pagan places of worship. They did the same thing throughout the rest of Judah, and the territories of Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh; then they all returned home.

For seven days all the people of Israel who were present celebrated the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread.

Since the days of the prophet Samuel, the Passover had never been celebrated like this. None of the former kings had ever celebrated a Passover like this one celebrated by King Josiah, the priests, the Levites, and the people of Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem

He told me to go and say to Israel, "Unfaithful Israel, come back to me. I am merciful and will not be angry; I will not be angry with you forever.

"Unfaithful people, come back; you belong to me. I will take one of you from each town and two from each clan, and I will bring you back to Mount Zion.

Israel will join with Judah, and together they will come from exile in the country in the north and will return to the land that I gave your ancestors as a permanent possession."

But like an unfaithful wife, you have not been faithful to me. I, the LORD, have spoken."

Return, all of you who have turned away from the LORD; he will heal you and make you faithful. You say, "Yes, we are coming to the LORD because he is our God.

Once again I will rebuild you. Once again you will take up your tambourines and dance joyfully.

Yes, the time is coming when sentries will call out on the hills of Ephraim, 'Let's go up to Zion, to the LORD our God.' "

I will bring them from the north and gather them from the ends of the earth. The blind and the lame will come with them, pregnant women and those about to give birth. They will come back a great nation.

The LORD says, "Nations, listen to me and proclaim my words on the far-off shores. I scattered my people, but I will gather them and guard them as a shepherd guards his flock.

But the time will come when the people of Israel will once again turn to the LORD their God and to a descendant of David their king. Then they will fear the LORD and will receive his good gifts.

The people say, "Let's return to the LORD! He has hurt us, but he will be sure to heal us; he has wounded us, but he will bandage our wounds, won't he?

Return to the LORD your God, people of Israel. Your sin has made you stumble and fall.

Assyria can never save us, and war horses cannot protect us. We will never again say to our idols that they are our God. O LORD, you show mercy to those who have no one else to turn to."

But I will watch for the LORD; I will wait confidently for God, who will save me. My God will hear me.