Berean Study Bible | International Standard Version |
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— | 1"Sound the ram's horn in Zion! Sound an alarm on my holy mountain! Tremble, all of you inhabitants of the land, because the Day of the LORD is coming. Oh, how near it is! |
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 doom and gloom, a day of clouds and shadows like the dawn spreads out to cover the mountains— a people strong and robust. Never has there been anything like it, neither will anything follow to compare with it, even through the lifetime of generation upon generation." |
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. | 3"A fire blazes in their presence, and behind them a conflagration rages. Before they come, the land is like the garden in Eden; after they leave, there is only a barren wasteland. Indeed, nothing escapes them. |
4Their appearance is like that of horses, and they gallop like swift steeds. | 4As to their form, they're like horses; and like chariot horses, how they can run! |
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 leap like the rumbling of chariots echoing from mountain tops, like the roar of wild fire that devours the chaff, as an army firmly established in battle array. |
6Nations writhe in horror before them; every face turns pale. | 6The people are terrified in their presence; every face grows 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 run like elite soldiers, climbing ramparts like men trained for war. Each man advances in proper order, never breaking rank. |
8They do not jostle one another; each proceeds in his path. They burst through the defenses, never breaking ranks. | 8Neither does a man crowd his fellow soldier; each one marches in his own path. When they fall by the sword they are not injured. |
9They storm the city; they run along the wall; they climb into houses, entering through windows like thieves. | 9They swarm through the city, running upon its ramparts. Climbing atop the houses, they enter through windows like a thief." |
10Before them the earth quakes; the heavens tremble. The sun and moon grow dark, and the stars lose their brightness. | 10"The land quivers in their presence; even the heavens shake. The sun and moon will grow dark, and the stars will stop 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 will shout in the presence of his forces, because his encampment is very great; for powerful is he who carries out his message. Truly the Day of the LORD is great, and very terrifying. Who will be able to survive it?" |
12“Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.” | 12"Yet even now," declares the LORD, "Turn back to me with your whole heart, with fasting, tears, 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 your garments; and turn back to the LORD your God. For he is gracious and compassionate, slow to become angry, overflowing in gracious love, and grieves about this evil. |
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 will turn back and relent, will he not, leaving behind a blessing, even a grain offering and drink offering for the LORD your God?" |
15Blow the ram’s horn in Zion, consecrate a fast, proclaim a sacred assembly. | 15"Sound the ram's horn in Zion! Dedicate a fast and call for a solemn 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! Dedicate the congregation! Bring in the elders. Gather the youngsters and even the nursing infants. Call the bridegroom from his wedding preparations, and the bride from her dressing room. |
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?’ ” | 17As they serve between the porch and the altar, let the priests and ministers of the LORD weep and pray: 'Spare your people, LORD, and do not make your heritage a disgrace so that nations ridicule them. Why should they say among the people, "Where is their God?"'" |
18Then the LORD became jealous for His land, and He spared His people. | 18Then the LORD will show great concern for his land, and will have compassion on 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 will say to his people, "Look! I will send you grain, new wine, and oil, and you will be content with them. I will no longer cause you to be 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. | 20"I will remove the northerners from you, driving them to a barren and desolate land— the front toward the Dead Sea and the back toward the Mediterranean. Their stench will rise, and their stinking odor will ascend, because they have done great things." |
21Do not be afraid, O land; rejoice and be glad, for the LORD has done great things. | 21"Stop being afraid, land! Rejoice and be glad, because the LORD will do 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. | 22Stop being afraid, beasts of the field, because the desert pastures will bloom, the trees will bear their fruit, and the fig tree and vine will deliver their wealth. |
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. | 23And so be glad, children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God, because he has given you the right amount of early rain, and he will cause the rain to fall for you, both the early rain and the later 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 smothered in grain, and the vats will overflow with wine and 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. | 25"Then I will restore to you the years that the locust swarm devoured, as did the young locust, the other locusts, and the ravaging locust, that great army of mine that I sent among 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 will be fully satisfied. You will praise the name of the LORD your God, who has performed wonders specifically for you. And my people will never be ashamed. |
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. | 27As a result, you will know that I am in the midst of Israel; that I myself am the LORD your God— and there is none other! And my people will never be ashamed." |
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 "Then it will come about at a later time that I will pour out my Spirit on every person. Your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your elderly people will dream dreams, and your young people will see visions. |
29Even on My menservants and maidservants, I will pour out My Spirit in those days. | 29Also at that time I will pour out my Spirit upon men and women servants. |
30I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. | 30I will display warnings 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 given over to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the coming of the great and terrifying Day of the LORD. |
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. | 32And everyone who calls upon the name of the LORD will be delivered. For as the LORD has said, 'In Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be those who escape, the survivors whom the LORD is calling.'" |
The Berean Bible (Berean Study Bible (BSB) © 2016, 2018 by Bible Hub and Berean.Bible. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved. | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
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