Book of Joel, Chapter 2
Chapter 2 of Joel
sound the alarm on my holy mountain!
Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble,
for the day of the LORD is coming, it is near,
a day of clouds and thick darkness!
Like blackness there is spread upon the mountains
a great and powerful people;
their like has never been from of old,
nor will be again after them
through the years of all generations.
and behind them a flame burns.
The land is like the garden of Eden before them,
but after them a desolate wilderness,
and nothing escapes them.
and like war horses they run.
they leap on the tops of the mountains,
like the crackling of a flame of fire
devouring the stubble,
like a powerful army
drawn up for battle.
all faces grow pale.
like soldiers they scale the wall.
They march each on his way,
they do not swerve[a] from their paths.
each marches in his path;
they burst through the weapons
and are not halted.
they run upon the walls;
they climb up into the houses,
they enter through the windows like a thief.
the heavens tremble.
The sun and the moon are darkened,
and the stars withdraw their shining.
before his army,
for his host is exceedingly great;
he that executes his word is powerful.
For the day of the LORD is great and very terrible;
who can endure it?
“return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
Return to the LORD, your God,
for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love,
and repents of evil.
and leave a blessing behind him,
a cereal offering and a drink offering
for the LORD, your God?
sanctify a fast;
call a solemn assembly;
Sanctify the congregation;
assemble the elders;
gather the children,
even nursing infants.
Let the bridegroom leave his room,
and the bride her chamber.
let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep
and say, “Spare thy people, O LORD,
and make not thy heritage a reproach,
a byword among the nations.
Why should they say among the peoples,
‘Where is their God?’”
and had pity on his people.
“Behold, I am sending to you
grain, wine, and oil,
and you will be satisfied;
and I will no more make you
a reproach among the nations.
and drive him into a parched and desolate land,
his front into the eastern sea,
and his rear into the western sea;
the stench and foul smell of him will rise,
for he has done great things.
be glad and rejoice,
for the LORD has done great things!
for the pastures of the wilderness are green;
the tree bears its fruit,
the fig tree and vine give their full yield.
and rejoice in the LORD, your God;
for he has given the early rain for your vindication,
he has poured down for you abundant rain,
the early and the latter rain, as before.
the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.
which the swarming locust has eaten,
the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter,
my great army, which I sent among you.
and praise the name of the LORD your God,
who has dealt wondrously with you.
And my people shall never again be put to shame.
and that I, the LORD, am your God and there is none else.
And my people shall never again
be put to shame.
that I will pour out my spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your old men shall dream dreams,
and your young men shall see visions.
in those days, I will pour out my spirit.FOOTNOTES
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