Joel 2:1-17 ▼

1 BLOW the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain; let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; for the day of the LORD is come;

2 And the day of darkness and gloom is near, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, like the morning spread upon the mountains; it shall come upon a great and strong people; there has not been ever the like from of old, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.

3 A fire devours before them; and behind them a flame burns; the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; and nothing shall escape them.

4 The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and like horsemen so they run;

5 Like the noise of chariots that rumble on the tops of the mountains, like the noise of a flame of fire that devours the stubble, like a mighty people arrayed for war.

6 Before their presence the people shall tremble; all faces shall be dismayed and confounded.

7 They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the walls like men of war; and they shall march in order every man on his way, and they shall not turn aside from their ranks;

8 Neither shall one push another; but they shall walk in order every one in his path; some of them shall fall down because of the weight of their armor, they shall not trample them.

9 They shall go up against the cities; they shall run upon the walls, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter through the windows like thieves.

10 The earth quakes before them; the heavens tremble; the sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars have withdrawn their shining.

11 The LORD has shouted before his army; for his host is very great; mighty is the work executed by his word; for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; who can endure it?

12 Therefore now, says the LORD, return to me with all your heart, and with fasting and with weeping and with mourning;

13 And rend your hearts and not your garments, and turn to the LORD your God; for he is gracious and merciful, patient and of great kindness, and he averts disaster.

14 Who knows if he will return again and multiply us, and increase his blessing in his land, even a meal offering and a drink offering to the LORD your God?

15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly;

16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the young men and those who suck the breasts; let the bridegroom leave his bedchamber, and the bride come out of her bridal chamber.

17 Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thy heritage to reproach, that the Gentiles should rule over them, lest the Gentiles say, Where is their God?