3 A fire devours in front of them,k

and behind them a flame blazes.

The land in front of them

is like the garden of Eden,l

but behind them,

it is like a desert wasteland;m

there is no escape from them.

4 Their appearance is like that of horses,n

and they gallop like war horses.

5 They bound on the tops of the mountains.

Their sound is like the sound of chariots,o

like the sound of fiery flames consuming stubble,p

like a mighty army deployed for war.

6 Nations writhe in horror before them;q

all faces turn pale.

7 They attack as warriors attack;

they scale walls as men of war do.

Each goes on his own path,r

and they do not change their course.

8 They do not push each other;

each proceeds on his own path.

They dodge the arrows, never stopping.

9 They storm the city;

they run on the wall;

they climb into the houses;s

they enter through the windows like thieves.t

10 The earth quakes before them;u

the sky shakes.

The sun and moon grow dark,v

and the stars cease their shining.w

11 The Lord makes his voice heardx

in the presence of his army.y

His camp is very large;

those who carry out his command are powerful.z

Indeed, the day of the Lord is terrible and dreadfulaa—

who can endure it?ab