Ashes to Ashes
“Even now,” says our God,
“return to me with all your heart,
with fasting and weeping and with mourning;
rend your hearts and not your garments.”
Return to the God who made you,
for God is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.
Who knows whether we may not turn and repent,
leaving behind us a blessing,
offerings and libations for the Most High God?
Blow the trumpet in Zion;
sanctify a fast;
call a solemn assembly;
gather the people.
Make holy the congregation;
assemble the elders;
gather the children,
even nursing infants.
Let the bridegroom leave his room,
and the bride her chamber.
Between the vestibule and the altar
let the ministers of the Most High weep
and say, “Spare your people, O God,
and make not your heritage a reproach,
a byword among the nations.
Why should they say among the peoples,
‘Where is their God?’”
Then you, O God, became jealous for your land,
And had pity on your people.
Joel 2:12–18
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