17 Let the priests, who minister to the Lord,
Weep ^abetween the porch and the altar;
Let them say, ^b“Spare Your people, O Lord,
And do not give Your heritage to reproach,
That the nations should¹ rule over them.
^cWhy should they say among the peoples,
‘Where is their God?’ ” ‡

18 Then the Lord will ^abe zealous for His land,
And pity His people. ‡

20 “But ^aI will remove far from you ^bthe northern army,
And will drive him away into a barren and desolate land,
With his face toward the eastern sea
And his back ^ctoward the western sea;
His stench will come up,
And his foul odor will rise,
Because he has done¹ monstrous things.” ‡

21 Fear not, O land;
Be glad and rejoice,
For the Lord has done¹ marvelous things! ‡