Joel 2

1Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;footnote a

2A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.footnote b

3A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.

4The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run.

5Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.

6Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness.footnote c

7They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks:

8Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.footnote d

9They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.

10The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:

11And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?

12Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:

13And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

14Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?

15Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:

16Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.

17Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?footnote e

18Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people.

19Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen:

20But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things.footnote f

21Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things.footnote g

22Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength.

23Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.footnote hfootnote i

24And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil.

25And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.

26And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.

27And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.

28And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

29And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.

30And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.

31The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.

32And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

The Army of Locusts

1Blow the ram’s horn in Zion;sound the alarm on My holy mountain!Let all who dwell in the land tremble,for the Day of the LORD is coming;indeed, it is near— 2a day of darkness and gloom,a day of clouds and blackness.Like the dawn overspreading the mountainsa great and strong army appears,such as never was of old,nor will ever be in ages to come.

3Before them a fire devours,and behind them a flame scorches.The land before them is like the Garden of Eden,but behind them, it is like a desert wasteland—surely nothing will escape them. 4Their appearance is like that of horses,and they gallop like swift steeds.footnote a 5With a sound like that of chariotsthey bound over the mountaintops,like the crackling of fire consuming stubble,like a mighty army deployed for battle.

6Nations writhe in horror before them;every face turns pale. 7They charge like mighty men;they scale the walls like men of war.Each one marches in formation,not swerving from the course. 8They do not jostle one another;each proceeds in his path.They burst through the defenses,never breaking ranks. 9They storm the city;they run along the wall;they climb into houses,entering through windows like thieves.

10Before them the earth quakes;the heavens tremble.The sun and moon grow dark,and the stars lose their brightness. 11The LORD raises His voicein the presence of His army.Indeed, His camp is very large,for mighty are those who obey His command.For the Day of the LORD is great and very dreadful.Who can endure it?

Return with All Your Heart

12“Yet even now,”declares the LORD,“return to Me with all your heart,with fasting, weeping, and mourning.”

13So rend your hearts and not your garments,and return to the LORD your God.For He is gracious and compassionate,slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion.footnote bAnd He relents from sending disaster. 14Who knows? He may turn and relentand leave a blessing behind Him—grain and drink offeringsfor the LORD your God.

15Blow the ram’s horn in Zion,consecrate a fast,proclaim a sacred assembly. 16Gather the people, sanctify the congregation,assemble the aged, gather the children,even those nursing at the breast.Let the bridegroom leave his room,and the bride her chamber. 17Let the priests who minister before the LORDweep between the portico and the altar,saying, “Spare Your people, O LORD,and do not make Your heritage a reproach,an object of scorn among the nations.Why should they say among the peoples,‘Where is their God?’”

Restoration Promised

18Then the LORD became jealous for His land,and He spared His people.

19And the LORD answered His people:“Behold, I will send yougrain, new wine, and oil,and by them you will be satisfied.I will never again make youa reproach among the nations.

20The northern army I will drive away from you,banishing it to a barren and desolate land,its front ranks into the Eastern Sea,footnote cand its rear guard into the Western Sea.footnote dAnd its stench will rise;its foul odor will ascend.For He has done great things.

21Do not be afraid, O land;rejoice and be glad,for the LORD has done great things. 22Do not be afraid, O beasts of the field,for the open pastures have turned green,the trees bear their fruit,and the fig tree and vine yield their best.footnote e 23Be glad, O children of Zion,and rejoice in the LORD your God,for He has given you the autumn rainsfor your vindication.He sends you showers,both autumn and spring rains, as before. 24The threshing floors will be full of grain,and the vats will overflow with new wine and oil.

25I will repay you for the years eaten by locusts—the swarming locust, the young locust,the destroying locust, and the devouring locustfootnote f—My great army that I sent against you. 26You will have plenty to eat,until you are satisfied.You will praise the name of the LORD your God,who has worked wonders for you.My people will never againbe put to shame. 27Then you will know that I am present in Israeland that I am the LORD your God,and there is no other.My people will never againbe put to shame.

I Will Pour Out My Spirit

28And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people.Your sons and daughters will prophesy,your old men will dream dreams,your young men will see visions. 29Even on My menservants and maidservants,I will pour out My Spirit in those days. 30I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth,blood and fire and columnsfootnote gof smoke. 31The sun will be turned to darknessand the moon to bloodbefore the coming of the great and awesomefootnote hDay of the LORD. 32And everyone who calls on the name of the LORDwill be saved;footnote ifor on Mount Zion and in Jerusalemthere will be deliverance, as the LORD has promised,among the remnant called by the LORD.