Joel 2-3

New International Version

Let all who live in the land tremble,
    for the day of the Lord^(D) is coming.
It is close at hand^(E)—
²     a day of darkness^(F) and gloom,^(G)
    a day of clouds^(H) and blackness.^(I)
Like dawn spreading across the mountains
    a large and mighty army^(J) comes,
such as never was in ancient times^(K)
    nor ever will be in ages to come.

³ Before them fire^(L) devours,
    behind them a flame blazes.
Before them the land is like the garden of Eden,^(M)
    behind them, a desert waste^(N)—
    nothing escapes them.
⁴ They have the appearance of horses;^(O)
    they gallop along like cavalry.
⁵ With a noise like that of chariots^(P)
    they leap over the mountaintops,
like a crackling fire^(Q) consuming stubble,
    like a mighty army drawn up for battle.

⁶ At the sight of them, nations are in anguish;^(R)
    every face turns pale.^(S)
7 They charge like warriors;^(T)
    they scale walls like soldiers.
They all march in line,^(U)
    not swerving^(V) from their course.
⁸ They do not jostle each other;
    each marches straight ahead.
They plunge through defenses
    without breaking ranks.
⁹ They rush upon the city;
    they run along the wall.
They climb into the houses;^(W)
    like thieves they enter through the windows.^(X)

¹⁰ Before them the earth shakes,^(Y)
    the heavens tremble,^(Z)
the sun and moon are darkened,^(AA)
    and the stars no longer shine.^(AB)
11 The Lord^(AC) thunders^(AD)
    at the head of his army;^(AE)
his forces are beyond number,
    and mighty is the army that obeys his command.
The day of the Lord is great;^(AF)
    it is dreadful.
    Who can endure it?^(AG)

¹³ Rend your heart^(AJ)
    and not your garments.^(AK)
Return^(AL) to the Lord your God,
    for he is gracious and compassionate,^(AM)
slow to anger and abounding in love,^(AN)
    and he relents from sending calamity.^(AO)
14 Who knows? He may turn^(AP) and relent^(AQ)
    and leave behind a blessing^(AR)—
grain offerings and drink offerings^(AS)
    for the Lord your God.

¹⁵ Blow the trumpet^(AT) in Zion,^(AU)
    declare a holy fast,^(AV)
    call a sacred assembly.^(AW)
16 Gather the people,
    consecrate^(AX) the assembly;
bring together the elders,^(AY)
    gather the children,
    those nursing at the breast.
Let the bridegroom^(AZ) leave his room
    and the bride her chamber.
¹⁷ Let the priests, who minister^(BA) before the Lord,
    weep^(BB) between the portico and the altar.^(BC)
Let them say, “Spare your people, Lord.
    Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn,^(BD)
    a byword^(BE) among the nations.
Why should they say among the peoples,
    ‘Where is their God?^(BF)’”

“I am sending you grain, new wine^(BI) and olive oil,^(BJ)
    enough to satisfy you fully;^(BK)
never again will I make you
    an object of scorn^(BL) to the nations.

²⁰ “I will drive the northern horde^(BM) far from you,
    pushing it into a parched and barren land;
its eastern ranks will drown in the Dead Sea
    and its western ranks in the Mediterranean Sea.
And its stench^(BN) will go up;
    its smell will rise.”

Surely he has done great things!
²¹     Do not be afraid,^(BO) land of Judah;
    be glad and rejoice.^(BP)
Surely the Lord has done great things!^(BQ)
22     Do not be afraid, you wild animals,
    for the pastures in the wilderness are becoming green.^(BR)
The trees are bearing their fruit;
    the fig tree^(BS) and the vine^(BT) yield their riches.^(BU)
23 Be glad, people of Zion,
    rejoice^(BV) in the Lord your God,
for he has given you the autumn rains
    because he is faithful.^(BW)
He sends you abundant showers,^(BX)
    both autumn^(BY) and spring rains,^(BZ) as before.
²⁴ The threshing floors will be filled with grain;
    the vats will overflow^(CA) with new wine^(CB) and oil.

²⁵ “I will repay you for the years the locusts^(CC) have eaten^(CD)—
    the great locust and the young locust,
    the other locusts and the locust swarm^[b]—
my great army^(CE) that I sent among you.
²⁶ You will have plenty to eat, until you are full,^(CF)
    and you will praise^(CG) the name of the Lord your God,
    who has worked wonders^(CH) for you;
never again will my people be shamed.^(CI)
27 Then you will know^(CJ) that I am in Israel,
    that I am the Lord^(CK) your God,
    and that there is no other;
never again will my people be shamed.^(CL)

⁹ Proclaim this among the nations:
    Prepare for war!^(DV)
Rouse the warriors!^(DW)
    Let all the fighting men draw near and attack.
¹⁰ Beat your plowshares into swords
    and your pruning hooks^(DX) into spears.^(DY)
Let the weakling^(DZ) say,
    “I am strong!”^(EA)
11 Come quickly, all you nations from every side,
    and assemble^(EB) there.

Bring down your warriors,^(EC) Lord!

¹² “Let the nations be roused;
    let them advance into the Valley of Jehoshaphat,^(ED)
for there I will sit
    to judge^(EE) all the nations on every side.
¹³ Swing the sickle,^(EF)
    for the harvest^(EG) is ripe.
Come, trample the grapes,^(EH)
    for the winepress^(EI) is full
    and the vats overflow—
so great is their wickedness!”

¹⁴ Multitudes,^(EJ) multitudes
    in the valley^(EK) of decision!
For the day of the Lord^(EL) is near
    in the valley of decision.^(EM)
15 The sun and moon will be darkened,
    and the stars no longer shine.^(EN)
16 The Lord will roar^(EO) from Zion
    and thunder from Jerusalem;^(EP)
    the earth and the heavens will tremble.^(EQ)
But the Lord will be a refuge^(ER) for his people,
    a stronghold^(ES) for the people of Israel.

¹⁸ “In that day the mountains will drip new wine,^(EZ)
    and the hills will flow with milk;^(FA)
    all the ravines of Judah will run with water.^(FB)
A fountain will flow out of the Lord’s house^(FC)
    and will water the valley of acacias.^[g](FD)
19 But Egypt^(FE) will be desolate,
    Edom^(FF) a desert waste,
because of violence^(FG) done to the people of Judah,
    in whose land they shed innocent blood.
²⁰ Judah will be inhabited forever^(FH)
    and Jerusalem through all generations.
²¹ Shall I leave their innocent blood unavenged?^(FI)
    No, I will not.^(FJ)”