Joel 2
1Blow the trumpet in Zion, 1 and sound an alarm on my holy mountain! 1 Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble in fear, 1 for the day of Yahweh is coming; 1 indeed, it is near. 1
2It is a day of darkness and gloom, 1 a day of clouds and thick darkness. 1 Like the dawn that spreads on the mountains, 1 a large and mighty army is approaching. 1 There has never been an army like it, 1 and there never will be again, 1 even after many generations. 1
3A fire is consuming everything in front of it, 1 and behind it a flame is burning. 1 The land is like the garden of Eden in front of it, 1 but behind it there is a ruined wilderness. 1 Indeed, nothing will escape from it. 1
4The army's appearance is like horses, 1 and they run like horsemen. 1
5They jump with a noise like that of chariots on the tops of the mountains, 1 like the noise of fiery flames that devour the stubble, 1 like a mighty army ready for battle. 1
6At their presence people are in anguish 1 and all their faces become pale. 1
7They run like mighty warriors; 1 they climb the walls like soldiers; 1 they march, every one in step, 1 and do not break their ranks. 1
8Neither does one thrust another aside; 1 they march, each in his path; 1 they break through the defenses 1 and do not fall out of line. 1
9They rush on the city, 1 they run on the wall, 1 they climb in the houses, 1 and they go through the windows like thieves. 1
10The earth shakes in front of them, 1 the heavens tremble, 1 the sun and the moon are darkened, 1 and the stars stop shining. 1
11Yahweh raises his voice in front of his army, 1 for his warriors are very numerous; 1 for they are strong, those who carry out his commands. 1 For the day of Yahweh is great and very terrible. 1 Who can survive it? 1
12“Yet even now,” says Yahweh, 1 “Return to me with all your heart. 1 Fast, weep, and mourn.” 1
13Tear your heart and not only your garments, 1 and return to Yahweh your God. 1 For he is gracious and merciful, 1 slow to anger and abundant in covenant faithfulness, 1 and he would like to turn from inflicting punishment. 1
14Who knows? Will he perhaps turn and have compassion, 1 and leave a blessing behind him, 1 a grain offering and a drink offering for Yahweh your God? 1
15Blow the trumpet in Zion, 1 call for a holy fast, 1 and call a holy assembly. 1
16Gather the people, 1 call for the holy assembly. 1 Assemble the elders, 1 gather the children 1 and the nursing infants. 1 Let the bridegrooms come out of their rooms, 1 and the brides out of their bridal chambers. 1
17Let the priests, the servants of Yahweh, 1 weep between the porch and the altar. 1 Let them say, “Spare your people, Yahweh, 1 and do not make your inheritance into an object of scorn, 1 that the nations mock them. 1 Why should they say among the nations, 1 'Where is their God?'” 1
18Then Yahweh was zealous for his land 1 and had pity on his people. 1
19Yahweh answered his people, 1 “Look, I will send you grain, new wine, and oil. 1 You will be satisfied with them, 1 and I will no longer make you a disgrace among the nations. 1
20I will remove the northern attackers far from you, 1 and will drive them into a dry and abandoned land. 1 The front of their army will go into the eastern sea, 1 and the rear into the western sea. 1 Its stench will rise, 1 and its bad smell will rise.” 2 Indeed, he has done great things. 1
21Do not fear, land, be glad and rejoice, 1 for Yahweh will do great things. 1
22Do not fear, beasts of the field, 1 for the pastures of the wilderness will sprout, 1 the trees will bear their fruit, 1 and the fig trees and the vines will yield their full harvest. 1
23Be glad, people of Zion, 1 and rejoice in Yahweh your God. 1 For he will give you the autumn rain in due course 1 and bring down showers for you, 1 the autumn rain and the spring rain as before. 1
24The threshing floors will be full of wheat, 1 and the vats will overflow with new wine and oil.
25“I will restore to you the years of crops that the swarming locust has eaten 1 —the great locust, the devouring locust, and the destroying locust— 1 my mighty army that I sent among you. 1
26You will eat plentifully and be full, 1 and praise the name of Yahweh your God, 1 who has done wonders among you, 1 and I will never again bring shame on my people. 1
27You will know that I am among Israel, 1 and that I am Yahweh your God, 1 and there is none else, 1 and I will never bring shame on my people. 1
28It will come about afterward that 1 I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, 1 and your sons and your daughters will prophesy. 1 Your old men will dream dreams, 1 your young men will see visions. 1
29Also on servants and female servants, 1 in those days I will pour out my Spirit. 1
30I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, 1 blood, fire, and pillars of smoke. 1
31The sun will turn into darkness 1 and the moon into blood, 1 before the great and terrible day of Yahweh comes. 1
32It will be that everyone who calls on the name of Yahweh will be saved. 1 For on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be those who escape, 1 as Yahweh has said, 1 and among the survivors, 1 those whom Yahweh calls.