Joel 2

1Blow the ram’s horn in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy mountain! Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of Yahweh is coming; it is near—

2a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness. Like dawn spreading across the mountains comes a people great and mighty; there has never been anything like it from ancient times, and there will never be again, through the years of all generations.

3Fire devours in front of them, and behind them a flame blazes. Before them the land is like the garden of Eden, but behind them it is a desolate wilderness; nothing escapes them.

4They look like horses, and like war horses they charge.

5With a noise like chariots they leap over the mountaintops, like the crackling of a blazing fire consuming stubble, like a mighty army drawn up for battle.

6Before them peoples writhe in anguish; every face turns pale.

7They charge like warriors; they scale the wall like soldiers. Each marches straight ahead, and they do not swerve from their paths.

8They do not jostle one another; each marches in his own track. They plunge through the defenses and do not break ranks.

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

10Before them the earth quakes and the heavens tremble; the sun and the moon grow dark, and the stars withdraw their shining.

11Yahweh thunders at the head of his army, for his forces are very great, and mighty is the one who carries out his word. The day of Yahweh is great and very terrible; who can endure it?

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

13Tear your hearts and not your garments. Return to Yahweh your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and he relents from sending disaster.

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

15Blow the ram’s horn in Zion; set apart a fast; call a solemn assembly.

16Gather the people; consecrate the congregation; assemble the elders; gather the children, even infants at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room and the bride her chamber.

17Between the porch and the altar let the priests, who minister to Yahweh, weep and say, “Spare your people, Yahweh. Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’”

18Then Yahweh became jealous for his land and took pity on his people.

19Yahweh answered his people: I am sending you grain, new wine, and olive oil, and you will be fully satisfied with them. I will never again make you an object of scorn among the nations.

20I will drive the northern army far from you and banish it to a dry and desolate land, its front ranks into the eastern sea and its rear into the western sea. Its stench will rise, its foul smell will go up, for it has done great things.

21Do not be afraid, you land; be glad and rejoice, for Yahweh has done great things!

22Do not be afraid, you animals of the field, for the pastures of the wilderness are turning green. The trees are bearing their fruit; the fig tree and the vine yield their full harvest.

23Children of Zion, be glad and rejoice in Yahweh your God, for he has given you the autumn rain in righteousness. He has poured down showers for you, the autumn and the spring rains, as before.

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

25I will repay you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopping locust, the stripping locust, and the cutting locust—my great army that I sent against you.

26You will eat your fill and be satisfied, and you will praise the name of Yahweh your God, who has worked wonders for you. Never again will my people 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. Never again will my people be put to shame.

28After this I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions.

29In those days I will also pour out my Spirit on the servants, men and women alike.

30I will display wonders in the sky and on the earth: blood, fire, and columns of smoke.

31The sun will turn to darkness and the moon to blood before the great and fearsome day of Yahweh comes.

32Then everyone who calls on the name of Yahweh will be saved, for a remnant will escape on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, just as Yahweh has said, and among the survivors whom Yahweh calls.