Joel 2:1-10 ▼

1 Blow 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—

2 a 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.

3 Before 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.

4 Their appearance is like that of horses, and they gallop like swift steeds.

5 With 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.

6 Nations writhe in horror before them; every face turns pale.

7 They charge like mighty men; they scale the walls like men of war. Each one marches in formation, not swerving from the course.

8 They do not jostle one another; each proceeds in his path. They burst through the defenses, never breaking ranks.

9 They storm the city; they run along the wall; they climb into houses, entering through windows like thieves.

10 Before them the earth quakes; the heavens tremble. The sun and moon grow dark, and the stars lose their brightness.