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10-11 The Lord declares that the happy voices of bridegrooms and of brides and the joyous song of those bringing thanksgiving offerings to the Lord will be heard again in this doomed land. The people will sing: “Praise the Lord! For he is good and his mercy endures forever!” For I will make this land happier and more prosperous than it has ever been before. 12 This land—though every man and animal and city is doomed—will once more see shepherds leading sheep and lambs. 13 Once again their flocks will prosper in the mountain villages and in the cities east of the Philistine Plain, in all the cities of the Negeb, in the land of Benjamin, in the vicinity of Jerusalem, and in all the cities of Judah.

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11 the sounds of joy and gladness,(A) the voices of bride and bridegroom, and the voices of those who bring thank offerings(B) to the house of the Lord, saying,

“Give thanks to the Lord Almighty,
    for the Lord is good;(C)
    his love endures forever.”(D)

For I will restore the fortunes(E) of the land as they were before,(F)’ says the Lord.

12 “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In this place, desolate(G) and without people or animals(H)—in all its towns there will again be pastures for shepherds to rest their flocks.(I) 13 In the towns of the hill(J) country, of the western foothills and of the Negev,(K) in the territory of Benjamin, in the villages around Jerusalem and in the towns of Judah, flocks will again pass under the hand(L) of the one who counts them,’ says the Lord.

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