עַתָּ֫ה

For Israel is as obstinate as a stubborn heifer. Can the LORD now shepherd them like lambs in an open meadow?

I know all about Ephraim, and Israel is not hidden from Me. For now, O Ephraim, you have turned to prostitution; Israel is defiled.

They have been unfaithful to the LORD; for they have borne illegitimate children. Now the New Moon will devour them along with their land.

But they fail to consider in their hearts that I remember all their evil. Now their deeds are all around them; they are before My face.

Israel is swallowed up! Now they are among the nations like a worthless vessel.

Though they hire allies among the nations, I will now round them up, and they will begin to diminish under the oppression of the king of princes.

Though they offer sacrifices as gifts to Me, and though they eat the meat, the LORD does not accept them. Now He will remember their iniquity and punish their sins: They will return to Egypt.

Their hearts are devious; now they must bear their guilt. The LORD will break down their altars and demolish their sacred pillars.

Surely now they will say, “We have no king, for we do not revere the LORD. What can a king do for us?”

Now they sin more and more and make for themselves cast images, idols skillfully made from their silver, all of them the work of craftsmen. People say of them, “They offer human sacrifice and kiss the calves!”

“Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.”

Therefore, you will now go into exile as the first of the captives, and your feasting and lounging will come to an end.

Now, therefore, hear the word of the LORD. You say: ‘Do not prophesy against Israel; do not preach against the house of Isaac.’

And now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.”

And I will make the lame into a remnant, the outcast into a strong nation. Then the LORD will rule over them in Mount Zion from that day and forever.

Why do you now cry aloud? Is there no king among you? Has your counselor perished so that anguish grips you like a woman in labor?

Writhe in agony, O Daughter of Zion, like a woman in labor. For now you will leave the city and camp in the open fields. You will go to Babylon; there you will be rescued; there the LORD will redeem you from the hand of your enemies!

But now many nations have assembled against you, saying, “Let her be defiled, and let us feast our eyes on Zion.”

Now, O daughter of troops, mobilize your troops; for a siege is laid against us! With a rod they will strike the cheek of the judge of Israel.

He will stand and shepherd His flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majestic name of the LORD His God. And they will dwell securely, for then His greatness will extend to the ends of the earth.

The best of them is like a brier; the most upright is sharper than a hedge of thorns. The day for your watchmen has come, the day of your visitation. Now is the time of their confusion.

Then my enemy will see and will be covered with shame—she who said to me, “Where is the LORD your God?” My eyes will see her; at that time she will be trampled like mud in the streets.

For I will now break their yoke from your neck and tear away your shackles.”

Now this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Consider carefully your ways.

‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not appear to you like nothing in comparison?’

But now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the LORD. Be strong, O Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. And be strong, all you people of the land, declares the LORD. Work! For I am with you, declares the LORD of Hosts.

Now consider carefully from this day forward: Before one stone was placed on another in the temple of the LORD,

But now I will not treat the remnant of this people as I did in the past,” declares the LORD of Hosts.

But I will camp around My house because of an army, because of those who march to and fro, and never again will an oppressor overrun My people, for now I keep watch with My own eyes.

“But ask now for God’s favor. Will He be gracious? Since this has come from your hands, will He show you favor?” asks the LORD of Hosts.

“And now this decree is for you, O priests:

So now we call the arrogant blessed. Not only do evildoers prosper, they even test God and escape.’”