| New International Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill. Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming. It is close at hand-- | 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— |
| 2a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Like dawn spreading across the mountains a large and mighty army comes, such as never was in ancient times nor ever will be in ages to come. | 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. |
| 3Before them fire devours, behind them a flame blazes. Before them the land is like the garden of Eden, behind them, a desert waste-- nothing escapes them. | 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. |
| 4They have the appearance of horses; they gallop along like cavalry. | 4Their appearance is like that of horses, and they gallop like swift steeds. |
| 5With a noise like that of chariots they leap over the mountaintops, like a crackling fire consuming stubble, like a mighty army drawn up for battle. | 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. |
| 6At the sight of them, nations are in anguish; every face turns pale. | 6Nations writhe in horror before them; every face turns pale. |
| 7They charge like warriors; they scale walls like soldiers. They all march in line, not swerving from their course. | 7They charge like mighty men; they scale the walls like men of war. Each one marches in formation, not swerving from the course. |
| 8They do not jostle each other; each marches straight ahead. They plunge through defenses without breaking ranks. | 8They do not jostle one another; each proceeds in his path. They burst through the defenses, never breaking ranks. |
| 9They rush upon the city; they run along the wall. They climb into the houses; like thieves they enter through the windows. | 9They storm the city; they run along the wall; they climb into houses, entering through windows like thieves. |
| 10Before them the earth shakes, the heavens tremble, the sun and moon are darkened, and the stars no longer shine. | 10Before them the earth quakes; the heavens tremble. The sun and moon grow dark, and the stars lose their brightness. |
| 11The LORD thunders at the head of his army; his forces are beyond number, and mighty is the army that obeys his command. The day of the LORD is great; it is dreadful. Who can endure it? | 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? |
| 12"Even now," declares the LORD, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning." | 12“Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.” |
| 13Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. | 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. |
| 14Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave behind a blessing-- grain offerings and drink offerings for the LORD your God. | 14Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave a blessing behind Him—grain and drink offerings for the LORD your God. |
| 15Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly. | 15Blow the ram’s horn in Zion, consecrate a fast, proclaim a sacred assembly. |
| 16Gather the people, consecrate the assembly; bring together the elders, gather the children, 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 bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber. |
| 17Let the priests, who minister before the LORD, weep between the portico and the altar. Let them say, "Spare your people, LORD. Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, 'Where is their God?'" | 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?’ ” |
| 18Then the LORD was jealous for his land and took pity on his people. | 18Then the LORD became jealous for His land, and He spared His people. |
| 19The LORD replied to them: "I am sending you grain, new wine and olive oil, enough to satisfy you fully; never again will I make you an object of scorn to the nations. | 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. |
| 20"I will drive the northern horde 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 will go up; its smell will rise." Surely he has done great things! | 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. |
| 21Do not be afraid, land of Judah; be glad and rejoice. Surely the LORD has done great things! | 21Do not be afraid, O land; rejoice and be glad, for the LORD has done great things. |
| 22Do not be afraid, you wild animals, for the pastures in the wilderness are becoming green. The trees are bearing their fruit; the fig tree and the vine yield their riches. | 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. |
| 23Be glad, people of Zion, rejoice in the LORD your God, for he has given you the autumn rains because he is faithful. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before. | 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. |
| 24The threshing floors will be filled with grain; 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 oil. |
| 25"I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten-- the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm -- my great army that I sent among you. | 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. |
| 26You will have plenty to eat, until you are full, and you will praise the name of the LORD your God, who has worked wonders for you; never again will my people be shamed. | 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. |
| 27Then you will know that I am in Israel, that I am the LORD your God, and that there is no other; never again will my people be shamed. | 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. |
| 28"And 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. | 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. |
| 29Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. | 29Even on My menservants and maidservants, I will pour out My Spirit in those days. |
| 30I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. | 30I will show wonders 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 coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. | 31The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and awesome 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 said, even among the survivors whom the LORD calls. | 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. |
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