Joel 2

1Blow the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm on my holy mountain! Let all who dwell in the earth tremble, for the day of Yahweh comes, for it is near.

2A day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness—like dawn spreading over the mountains: a vast and mighty people. Nothing like it has ever arisen from ancient times, nor will anything arise after it even to the years of generation after generation.

3Fire devours before them, and behind them a flame blazes. The land resembles Eden's garden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness. Indeed, no escape has been theirs.

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

5Like the crackling of chariots on the mountaintops they leap, like the crackling of a flame of fire consuming stubble, like a mighty people arrayed for battle.

6Peoples writhe before their face; all faces gather blackness.

7They charge like champions, climb the wall like men of war; each advances along his paths without swerving from their courses.

8They do not thrust one another; every man marches in his path, and when they fall upon the weapon, they are not cut down.

9They rush about in the city, run along the wall, climb into the houses, and enter through the windows like a thief.

10Before them the earth trembles, the heavens quake, the sun and moon grow dark, and the stars gather in their brightness.

11Yahweh sounded his voice before his army, for his camp is exceedingly great; mighty is the one who performs his word, for great is the day of Yahweh and very awesome—who can endure it?

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

13Tear your hearts, not your garments, and return to Yahweh your God; for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, rich in steadfast love, and relents from calamity.

14Who can know whether he will return and relent, and leave a blessing behind him—a grain offering and a drink offering to Yahweh your God?

15Sound the trumpet in Zion, appoint a fast, call a sacred assembly.

16Assemble the people, consecrate the congregation, gather the elders, assemble the children and those who suckle the breasts; let the bridegroom go out from his chamber, and the bride from her bridal chamber.

17Let the priests, ministers of Yahweh, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, "Spare your people, Yahweh, and do not give your inheritance to reproach for nations to rule over them—why should they say among the peoples, 'Where is their God?'"

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

19Yahweh answered his people, "See, I send you grain, new wine, and oil, and you will be filled with them; I will no longer make you a reproach among the nations."

20I will drive the northerner far from you and thrust it into a barren and desolate land, its face toward the eastern sea and its rear toward the western sea, and its stench will rise and its foul odor ascend, because he has done great things.

21Land, do not fear; rejoice and be glad, for Yahweh has done great things.

22Do not fear, beasts of the field, for the pastures of the wilderness sprout, for the tree bears its fruit; the fig tree and the vine yield their strength.

23Children of Zion, rejoice and be glad in Yahweh your God, for he has given you the early rain in righteousness, and he brought down for you the shower—the early rain and the latter rain—as at the first.

24The threshing floors will fill with wheat, and the presses will overflow with new wine and oil.

25I will make amends to you for the years that the locust has devoured, the cankerworm, the caterpillar, and the palmerworm—my great army that I sent against you.

26You will eat abundantly and be satisfied, and praise the name of Yahweh your God, who has done marvelously with you; and my people will never be ashamed.

27You will know that I am among Israel, and I am Yahweh your God, and there is none other; my people will never again be shamed.

28Afterward I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and daughters will prophesy, your elders will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.

29And also on the male servants and on the female servants in those days, I will pour out my Spirit.

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

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

32And everyone who calls on the name of Yahweh will escape, for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as Yahweh has said, among the survivors whom Yahweh calls.