Joel 2

1Blow the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain! for the day of Yahweh comes, for it is close at hand: Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, 2a day of clouds and thick darkness. a great and strong people; there has never been the like, neither will there be any more after them, even to the years of many generations. A day of darkness and gloominess, As the dawn spreading on the mountains, 3and behind them, a flame burns. and behind them, a desolate wilderness. A fire devours before them, The land is as the garden of Eden before them, Yes, and no one has escaped them. 4and as horsemen, so do they run. Their appearance is as the appearance of horses, 5like the noise of a flame of fire that devours the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array. Like the noise of chariots on the tops of the mountains do they leap, 6All faces have grown pale. At their presence the peoples are in anguish. 7They climb the wall like warriors. They each march in his line, and they don’t swerve off course. They run like mighty men. 8they march everyone in his path, and they burst through the defenses, and don’t break ranks. Neither does one jostle another; 9They run on the wall. They climb up into the houses. They enter in at the windows like thieves. They rush on the city. 10The heavens tremble. The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining. The earth quakes before them. 11for his forces are very great; for he is strong who obeys his command; for the day of Yahweh is great and very awesome, and who can endure it? Yahweh thunders his voice before his army; 12and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning.” “Yet even now,” says Yahweh, “turn to me with all your heart, 13and turn to Yahweh, your God; for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, and relents from sending calamity. Tear your heart, and not your garments, 14and leave a blessing behind him, even a meal offering and a drink offering to Yahweh, your God. Who knows? He may turn and relent, 15Sanctify a fast. Call a solemn assembly. Blow the trumpet in Zion! 16Sanctify the assembly. Assemble the elders. Gather the children, and those who nurse from breasts. and the bride out of her room. Gather the people. Let the bridegroom go out of his room, 17and let them say, “Spare your people, Yahweh, and don’t give your heritage to reproach, that the nations should rule over them. ‘Where is their God?’” Let the priests, the ministers of Yahweh, weep between the porch and the altar, Why should they say among the peoples, 18And had pity on his people. Then Yahweh was jealous for his land, 19* I will send you grain, new wine, and oil, and you will be satisfied with them; and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations. Yahweh answered his people, 20and will drive it into a barren and desolate land, its front into the eastern sea, and its back into the western sea; and its stench will come up, and its bad smell will rise.” But I will remove the northern army far away from you, Surely he has done great things. 21Be glad and rejoice, for Yahweh has done great things. Land, don’t be afraid. 22for the pastures of the wilderness spring up, for the tree bears its fruit. The fig tree and the vine yield their strength. Don’t be afraid, you animals of the field; 23and rejoice in Yahweh, your God; for he gives you the former rain in just measure, and he causes the rain to come down for you, the former rain and the latter rain, as before. “Be glad then, you children of Zion, 24and the vats will overflow with new wine and oil. The threshing floors will be full of wheat, 25the great locust, the grasshopper, and the caterpillar, my great army, which I sent among you. I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, 26and will praise the name of Yahweh, your God, who has dealt wondrously with you; and my people will never again be disappointed. You will have plenty to eat, and be satisfied, 27and that I am Yahweh, your God, and there is no one else; and my people will never again be disappointed. You will know that I am among Israel, 28and your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions. “It will happen afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; 29I will pour out my Spirit. And also on the servants and on the handmaids in those days, 30blood, fire, and pillars of smoke. I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: 31and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of Yahweh comes. The sun will be turned into darkness, 32for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be those who escape, as Yahweh has said, and among the remnant, those whom Yahweh calls. It will happen that whoever will call on Yahweh’s name shall be saved;