Joel 2:1–11

Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain; let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of Jehovah cometh, for it is nigh at hand; ²a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, as the dawn spread upon the mountains; a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after them, even to the years of many generations. ³A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and none hath escaped them.

⁴The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so do they run. ⁵Like the noise of chariots on the tops of the mountains do they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array. ⁶At their presence the peoples are in anguish; all faces are waxed pale. ⁷They run like mighty men; they climb the wall like men of war; and they march every one on his ways, and they break not their ranks. ⁸Neither doth one thrust another; they march every one in his path; and they burst through the weapons, and break not off their course. ⁹They leap upon the city; they run upon the wall; they climb up into the houses; they enter in at the windows like a thief. ¹⁰The earth quaketh before them; the heavens tremble; the sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining. ¹¹And Jehovah uttereth his voice before his army; for his camp is very great; for he is strong that executeth his word; for the day of Jehovah is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?