Joel 2

Joel 2

Announcement of alarm and peril

1Blow the horn in Zion;

give a shout on my holy mountain!

Let all the people of the land tremble,

for the day of the LORD is coming.

It is near—

2a day of darkness and no light,

a day of clouds and thick darkness!

Like blackness spread out upon the mountains,

a great and powerful army comes,

3In front of them a fire consumes;

and behind them a flame burns.

Land ahead of them is like Eden’s garden,

but they leave behind them a barren wasteland;

4They resemble horses,

and like warhorses they charge,

They leap on the mountaintops—

like the crackling of a fire’s flame,

like a powerful army

6In their presence, peoples shake with fear;

all faces turn red with worry.

7Like warriors they charge;

like soldiers they climb the wall.

Each keeps to their own path;

they didn’t change their course.

8They don’t crowd each other;

each keeps to their own path.

Even if they fall among the weapons,

they won’t stop.

9They rush upon the city;

they run upon the walls.

They climb into the houses;

they enter through the windows like thieves.

10The earth quakes before them;

the heavens shake.

The sun and the moon are darkened;

the stars have stopped shining,

11because the LORD utters his voice

How numerous are his troops!

Mighty are those who obey his word.

The day of the LORD is great;

it stirs up great fear—who can endure it?

Change your hearts

12Yet even now, says the LORD ,

return to me with all your hearts,

13tear your hearts

Return to the LORD your God,

14Who knows whether he will have a change of heart

and leave a blessing behind him,

a grain offering and a drink offering

15Blow the horn in Zion;

16Gather the people;

Let the groom leave his room

17Between the porch and the altar

Let them say, “Have mercy, LORD , on your people,

Why should they say among the peoples,

Words of compassion and promise

18Then the LORD became passionate about this land, and had pity on his people.[#2.18 Or then the became jealous for his land]

19The LORD responded to the people:

See, I am sending you

the corn, new wine, and fresh oil,

and I will no longer make you

20I will remove the northern army far from you

and drive it into a dried-up and desolate land,

Its stench will rise up;

The LORD is about to do great things!

21Don’t fear, fertile land;

rejoice and be glad,

for the LORD is about to do great things!

22Don’t be afraid, animals of the field,

the tree will bear its fruit;

23Children of Zion,

because he will give you the early rain as a sign of righteousness;

24The threshing floors will be full of grain;

25I will repay you for the years

the swarming locust, the hopping locust, and the devouring locust have eaten—

26You will eat abundantly and be satisfied,

who has done wonders for you;

27You will know that I am in the midst of Israel,

28After that I will pour out my spirit upon everyone;

29In those days, I will also pour out my

spirit on the male and female slaves.

30I will give signs in the heavens and on the earth—blood and fire and columns of smoke.

31The sun will be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood before the great and dreadful day of the LORD comes.

32But everyone who calls on the LORD ’s name will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be security, as the LORD has promised; and in Jerusalem, the LORD will summon those who survive.

2011 Common English Bible. All rights reserved.
Published by: Common English Bible