For he makes the bars of your gates strong. He blesses your children within you.

In all the vineyards there will be wailing, for I will pass through your midst,” says the Lord.

I will leave in your midst a humble and meek group of people, and they will find safety in the Lord’s presence.

A day of the Lord is about to come when your possessions will be divided as plunder in your midst.

You must not tremble in their presence, for the Lord your God, who is present among you, is a great and awesome God.

The rest of the people will hear and become afraid to keep doing such evil among you.

Indeed, he may live among you in any place he chooses, in whichever of your villages he prefers; you must not oppress him.

The foreigners who reside among you will become higher and higher over you and you will become lower and lower.

Cry out and shout for joy, O citizens of Zion, for the Holy One of Israel acts mightily among you!”

“Oh people of Jerusalem, purify your hearts from evil so that you may yet be delivered. How long will you continue to harbor up wicked schemes within you?

Your warriors will be like women in your midst; the gates of your land will be wide open to your enemies; fire will consume the bars of your gates.

Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go up among you, for you are a stiff-necked people, and I might destroy you on the way.”

Be careful not to make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land where you are going, lest it become a snare among you.

for the Lord your God, who is present among you, is a jealous God and his anger will erupt against you and remove you from the land.

Suppose a prophet or one who foretells by dreams should appear among you and show you a sign or wonder,

Thus all Israel will hear and be afraid; no longer will they continue to do evil like this among you.

You must investigate thoroughly and inquire carefully. If it is indeed true that such a disgraceful thing is being done among you,

You will celebrate all the good things that the Lord your God has given you and your family, along with the Levites and the resident foreigners among you.

I cannot carry out my fierce anger! I cannot totally destroy Ephraim! Because I am God, and not man – the Holy One among you – I will not come in wrath!

You will eat, but not be satisfied. Even if you have the strength to overtake some prey, you will not be able to carry it away; if you do happen to carry away something, I will deliver it over to the sword.