Joel 2

1Blow a horn in Zion, and sound an alarm on my holy mountain; let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of Yahweh is coming—indeed, it is near.

2A day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness; like dawn spread over the mountains, a great and mighty people comes. Nothing like it has ever been from of old, and after it there will not again be any, through the years of generation after generation.

3Before it, fire devours; behind it, a flame blazes. The land before it is like the garden of Eden, but behind it is a desolate wilderness; indeed, nothing escapes it.

4Their appearance is like the appearance of horses, and like horsemen, so they run.

5Like the sound of chariots, they leap on the tops of the mountains; like the sound of a flame of fire consuming stubble; like a mighty people arrayed for battle.

6Before him peoples writhe; all faces grow pale.

7Like warriors they run; like men of war they climb the wall. Each goes in his own way, and they do not swerve from their paths.

8No man crowds his brother; each goes on his own path. Though they fall through the weapon, they do not break ranks.

9They rush through the city; they run on the wall; they climb into the houses; they enter through the windows like a thief.

10Before him the earth quakes; the heavens tremble. The sun and the moon grow dark, and the stars withdraw their brightness.

11And Yahweh gives his voice before his army, for his camp is exceedingly great; for mighty is the one who does his word. For the day of Yahweh is great and exceedingly dreadful—who can endure it?

12“Yet even now,” declares Yahweh, “return to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning.”

13Tear your hearts and not your garments, and return to Yahweh your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abundant in steadfast love, and relenting concerning the disaster.

14Who knows? He may turn and relent, and leave behind him a blessing—an offering and a drink offering for Yahweh your God.

15Blow a trumpet in Zion; consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly.

16Gather the people; consecrate the assembly; gather the elders; gather the children, even the nursing infants. Let the bridegroom come out from his room, and the bride from her chamber.

17Let the priests, the ministers of Yahweh, weep between the portico and the altar, and let them say, “Spare your people, Yahweh, and do not make your inheritance a reproach, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’”

18Then Yahweh became jealous for his land and had compassion on his people.

19Then the LORD answered and said to his people, “Look, I am sending you the grain, the new wine, and the fresh oil, and you will be satisfied with it; and I will no longer make you a reproach among the nations.”

20And I will remove the northerner far from you, and I will drive him into a dry and desolate land, his front into the eastern sea and his rear into the western sea; his stench will rise, and his foul smell will rise, because he has done great things.

21Do not fear, O land; rejoice and be glad, for Yahweh has done great things.

22Do not fear, beasts of the field, for the pastures of the wilderness have become green; for the tree bears its fruit, the fig tree and the vine have given their wealth.

23And you, children of Zion, rejoice and be glad in Yahweh your God, for he has given you the early rain for righteousness; and he causes the rain to come down for you—the early rain and the latter rain as before.

24The threshing floors will be filled with grain, and the vats will overflow with new wine and oil.

25I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten—the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter—my great army that I sent among you.

26You will surely eat and be satisfied, and you will praise the name of Yahweh your God, who has dealt wondrously with you; and my people will never again be put to shame.

27Then you will know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am Yahweh your God, and there is no other; and my people will never again be put to shame.