Joel 2:17–20

17 Let the priests,ap the Lord’s ministers,

weep between the portico and the altar.aq

Let them say,

“Have pity on your people, Lord,ar

and do not make your inheritance a disgrace,a

an object of scorn among the nations.

Why should it be said among the peoples,

‘Where is their God?’ ”b

GOD’S RESPONSE TO HIS PEOPLE

18 Then the Lord became jealous for his landc and spared his people.d 19 The Lord answered his people:

Look, I am about to send you

grain, new wine, and fresh oil.e

You will be satiated with them,

and I will no longer make you

a disgrace among the nations.f

20 I will drive the northerner far from youg

and banish him to a dry and desolate land,

his front ranks into the Dead Sea,h

and his rear guard into the Mediterranean Sea.i

His stench will rise;

yes, his rotten smell will rise,j

for he has done astonishing things.