The Locusts as a Warning of the Day of the Lord

1Blow the trumpet; sound the alarm

on Zion, God's sacred hill.+

Tremble, people of Judah!

The day of the Lord is coming soon.

2It will be a dark and gloomy day,

a black and cloudy day.

The great army of locusts advances

like darkness spreading over the mountains.

There has never been anything like it,

and there never will be again.

3Like fire they eat up the plants.

In front of them the land is like the Garden of Eden,

but behind them it is a barren desert.

Nothing escapes them.

4 They look like horses;

they run like war-horses.

5As they leap on the tops of the mountains,

they rattle like chariots;

they crackle like dry grass on fire.

They are lined up like a great army ready for battle.

6As they approach, everyone is terrified;

every face turns pale.

7They attack like warriors;

they climb the walls like soldiers.

They all keep marching straight ahead

and do not change direction

8or get in each other's way.

They swarm through defenses,

and nothing can stop them.

9They rush against the city;

they run over the walls;

they climb up the houses

and go in through the windows like thieves.

10 The earth shakes as they advance;

the sky trembles.

The sun and the moon grow dark,

and the stars no longer shine.

11 The Lord thunders commands to his army.

The troops that obey him

are many and mighty.

How terrible is the day of the Lord!

Who will survive it?

A Call to Repentance

12“But even now,” says the Lord,

“repent sincerely and return to me

with fasting and weeping and mourning.

13Let your broken heart show your sorrow;

tearing your clothes is not enough.”

Come back to the Lord your God.

He is kind and full of mercy;

he is patient and keeps his promise;

he is always ready to forgive and not punish.

14Perhaps the Lord your God will change his mind

and bless you with abundant crops.

Then you can offer him grain and wine.

15Blow the trumpet on Mount Zion;

give orders for a fast and call an assembly!

16Gather the people together;

prepare them for a sacred meeting;

bring the old people;

gather the children

and the babies too.

Even newly married couples

must leave their homes and come.

17 The priests, serving the Lord

between the altar and the entrance of the Temple,

must weep and pray:

“Have pity on your people, Lord.

Do not let other nations despise us and mock us

by saying, ‘Where is your God?’”

God Restores Fertility to the Land

18Then the Lord showed concern for his land;

he had mercy on his people.

19He answered them:

“Now I am going to give you

grain and wine and olive oil,

and you will be satisfied.

Other nations will no longer despise you.

20I will remove the locust army that came from the north

and will drive some of them into the desert.

Their front ranks will be driven into the Dead Sea,

their rear ranks into the Mediterranean.

Their dead bodies will stink.

I will destroy them because of all they have done to you.

21“Fields, don't be afraid,

but be joyful and glad

because of all the Lord has done for you.

22Animals, don't be afraid.

The pastures are green;

the trees bear their fruit,

and there are plenty of figs and grapes.

23“Be glad, people of Zion,

rejoice at what the Lord your God has done for you.

He has given you the right amount of autumn rain;+

he has poured down the winter rain for you

and the spring rain as before.

24The threshing places will be full of grain;

the pits beside the presses will overflow with wine and olive oil.

25I will give you back what you lost

in the years when swarms of locusts ate your crops.

It was I who sent this army against you.

26Now you will have plenty to eat, and be satisfied.

You will praise the Lord your God,

who has done wonderful things for you.

My people will never be despised again.

27Then, Israel, you will know that I am among you

and that I, the Lord, am your God

and there is no other.

My people will never be despised again.

The Day of the Lord

28 “Afterward I will pour out my Spirit on everyone:

your sons and daughters will proclaim my message;

your old people will have dreams,

and your young people will see visions.

29At that time I will pour out my Spirit

even on servants, both men and women.

30“I will give warnings of that day

in the sky and on the earth;

there will be bloodshed, fire, and clouds of smoke.

31 The sun will be darkened,

and the moon will turn red as blood

before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes.

32 But all who ask the Lord for help will be saved.

As the Lord has said,

‘Some in Jerusalem will escape;

those whom I choose will survive.’”