| Berean Study Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Blow the ram’s horn in Zion; sound the alarm on My holy mountain! Let all who dwell in the land tremble, for the Day of the LORD is coming; indeed, it is near— | 1Blow the horn in Zion; sound the alarm on My holy mountain! Let all the residents of the land tremble, for the Day of the LORD is coming; in fact, it is near-- |
| 2a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Like the dawn overspreading the mountains a great and strong army appears, such as never was of old, nor will ever be in ages to come. | 2a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and dense overcast, like the dawn spreading over the mountains; a great and strong people appears, such as never existed in ages past and never will again in all the generations to come. |
| 3Before them a fire devours, and behind them a flame scorches. The land before them is like the Garden of Eden, but behind them, it is like a desert wasteland—surely nothing will escape them. | 3A fire destroys in front of them, and behind them a flame devours. The land in front of them is like the Garden of Eden, but behind them, it is like a desert wasteland; there is no escape from them. |
| 4Their appearance is like that of horses, and they gallop like swift steeds. | 4Their appearance is like that of horses, and they gallop like war horses. |
| 5With a sound like that of chariots they bound over the mountaintops, like the crackling of fire consuming stubble, like a mighty army deployed for battle. | 5They bound on the tops of the mountains. Their sound is like the sound of chariots, like the sound of fiery flames consuming stubble, like a mighty army deployed for war. |
| 6Nations writhe in horror before them; every face turns pale. | 6Nations writhe in horror before them; all faces turn pale. |
| 7They charge like mighty men; they scale the walls like men of war. Each one marches in formation, not swerving from the course. | 7They attack as warriors attack; they scale walls as men of war do. Each goes on his own path, and they do not change their course. |
| 8They do not jostle one another; each proceeds in his path. They burst through the defenses, never breaking ranks. | 8They do not push each other; each man proceeds on his own path. They dodge the arrows, never stopping. |
| 9They storm the city; they run along the wall; they climb into houses, entering through windows like thieves. | 9They storm the city; they run on the wall; they climb into the houses; they enter through the windows like thieves. |
| 10Before them the earth quakes; the heavens tremble. The sun and moon grow dark, and the stars lose their brightness. | 10The earth quakes before them; the sky shakes. The sun and moon grow dark, and the stars cease their shining. |
| 11The LORD raises His voice in the presence of His army. Indeed, His camp is very large, for mighty are those who obey His command. For the Day of the LORD is great and very dreadful. Who can endure it? | 11The LORD raises His voice in the presence of His army. His camp is very large; Those who carry out His command are powerful. Indeed, the Day of the LORD is terrible and dreadful-- who can endure it? |
| 12“Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.” | 12Even now-- this is the LORD's declaration-- turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning. |
| 13So rend your hearts and not your garments, and return to the LORD your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. And He relents from sending disaster. | 13Tear your hearts, not just your clothes, and return to the LORD your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, rich in faithful love, and He relents from sending disaster. |
| 14Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave a blessing behind Him—grain and drink offerings for the LORD your God. | 14Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave a blessing behind Him, so you can offer grain and wine to the LORD your God. |
| 15Blow the ram’s horn in Zion, consecrate a fast, proclaim a sacred assembly. | 15Blow the horn in Zion! Announce a sacred fast; proclaim an assembly. |
| 16Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the aged, gather the children, even those nursing at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber. | 16Gather the people; sanctify the congregation; assemble the aged; gather the children, even those nursing at the breast. Let the groom leave his bedroom, and the bride her honeymoon chamber. |
| 17Let the priests who minister before the LORD weep between the portico and the altar, saying, “Spare Your people, O LORD, and do not make Your heritage a reproach, an object of scorn among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’ ” | 17Let the priests, the LORD's ministers, weep between the portico and the altar. Let them say:" Have pity on Your people, LORD, and do not make Your inheritance a disgrace, an object of scorn among the nations. Why should it be said among the peoples, Where is their God?'" |
| 18Then the LORD became jealous for His land, and He spared His people. | 18Then the LORD became jealous for His land and spared His people. |
| 19And the LORD answered His people: “Behold, I will send you grain, new wine, and oil, and by them you will be satisfied. I will never again make you a reproach among the nations. | 19The LORD answered His people: Look, I am about to send you grain, new wine, and olive oil. You will be satiated with them, and I will no longer make you a disgrace among the nations. |
| 20The northern army I will drive away from you, banishing it to a barren and desolate land, its front ranks into the Eastern Sea, and its rear guard into the Western Sea. And its stench will rise; its foul odor will ascend. For He has done great things. | 20I will drive the northerner far from you and banish him to a dry and desolate land, his front ranks into the Dead Sea, and his rear guard into the Mediterranean Sea. His stench will rise; yes, his rotten smell will rise, for he has done catastrophic things. |
| 21Do not be afraid, O land; rejoice and be glad, for the LORD has done great things. | 21Don't be afraid, land; rejoice and be glad, for the LORD has done great things. |
| 22Do not be afraid, O beasts of the field, for the open pastures have turned green, the trees bear their fruit, and the fig tree and vine yield their best. | 22Don't be afraid, wild animals, for the wilderness pastures have turned green, the trees bear their fruit, and the fig tree and grapevine yield their riches. |
| 23Be glad, O children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God, for He has given you the autumn rains for your vindication. He sends you showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before. | 23Children of Zion, rejoice and be glad in the LORD your God, because He gives you the autumn rain for your vindication. He sends showers for you, both autumn and spring rain as before. |
| 24The threshing floors will be full of grain, and the vats will overflow with new wine and oil. | 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 eaten by locusts—the swarming locust, the young locust, the destroying locust, and the devouring locust—My great army that I sent against you. | 25I will repay you for the years that the swarming locust ate, the young locust, the destroying locust, and the devouring locust-- My great army that I sent against you. |
| 26You will have plenty to eat, until you are satisfied. You will praise the name of the LORD your God, who has worked wonders for you. My people will never again be put to shame. | 26You will have plenty to eat and be satisfied. You will praise the name of Yahweh your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. My people will never again be put to shame. |
| 27Then you will know that I am present in Israel and that I am the LORD your God, and there is no other. My people will never again be put to shame. | 27You will know that I am present in Israel and that I am Yahweh your God, and there is no other. My people will never again be put to shame. |
| 28And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. | 28 After this I will pour out My Spirit on all humanity; then your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your old men will have dreams, and your young men will see visions. |
| 29Even on My menservants and maidservants, I will pour out My Spirit in those days. | 29I will even pour out My Spirit on the male and female slaves in those days. |
| 30I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. | 30I will display wonders in the heavens and on the earth: blood, fire, and columns of smoke. |
| 31The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the LORD. | 31The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the great and awe-inspiring Day of the LORD comes. |
| 32And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the LORD has promised, among the remnant called by the LORD. | 32Then everyone who calls on the name of Yahweh will be saved, for there will be an escape for those on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, as the LORD promised, among the survivors the LORD calls. |
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