Joel 2:1-16 ▼

1 Blow a horn in Zion, || And shout in My holy hill, || All inhabitants of the earth tremble, || For the Day of YHWH is coming, for [it is] near!

2 A day of darkness and thick darkness, || A day of cloud and thick darkness, || As darkness spread on the mountains, || A people numerous and mighty, || Like there has not been from of old, || And after it there is not again—Until the years of generation and generation.

3 Before it fire has consumed, || And after it a flame burns, || As the Garden of Eden [is] the land before it, || And after it a wilderness—a desolation! And also there has not been to it an escape,

4 As the appearance of horses [is] its appearance, || And as horsemen, so they run.

5 As the noise of chariots, they skip on the tops of the mountains, || As the noise of a flame of fire devouring stubble, || As a mighty people set in array for battle.

6 Pained are peoples from its face, || All faces have gathered paleness.

7 They run as mighty ones, || As men of war they go up a wall, || And they each go in his own ways, || And they do not change their paths.

8 And each does not press his brother, || They each go on in his way, || If they fall by the missile, they are not cut off.

9 In the city they run to and fro, || On the wall they run, || Into houses they go up by the windows, || They go in as a thief.

10 At their face the earth has trembled, || The heavens have shaken, || Sun and moon have been black, || And stars have gathered up their shining.

11 And YHWH has given forth His voice before His force, || For His camp [is] very great, || For mighty [is] the doer of His word, || For great [is] the Day of YHWH—very fearful, || And who bears it?

12 “And also now,” a declaration of YHWH, || “Turn back to Me with all your heart, || And with fasting, and with weeping, || And with lamentation.”

13 And tear your heart, and not your garments, || And turn back to your God YHWH, || For He [is] gracious and merciful, || Slow to anger, and abundant in kindness, || And relenting from evil.

14 Who knows—He turns back, || Indeed—He has relented, || And He has left behind Him a blessing, || A present and drink-offering of your God YHWH?

15 Blow a horn in Zion, || Sanctify a fast—proclaim a restraint.

16 Gather the people, sanctify an assembly, || Assemble the aged, || Gather infants and sucklings of the breasts, || Let a bridegroom go out from his inner chamber, || And a bride out of her closet.