9 This is how Israel’s guilt will be forgiven;this is how its sins will be taken away:Israel will crush the rocks of the altar to dust,and no statues or altars will be left standing for the Asherah idols.
10 At that time the strong, walled city will be emptylike a desert.Calves will eat grass there.They will lie down thereand eat leaves from the branches.
11 The limbs will become dry and break off,so women will use them for firewood.The people refuse to understand,so God will not comfort them;their Maker will not be kind to them.
12 At that time the Lord will begin gathering his people one by one from the Euphrates River to the brook of Egypt. He will separate them from others as grain is separated from chaff.
13 Many of my people are now lost in Assyria. Some have run away to Egypt. But at that time a great trumpet will be blown, and all those people will come and worship the Lord on that holy mountain in Jerusalem.