Joel 2:11–23
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
12 Even now—
this is the Lord’s declaration—
turn to me with all your heart,ac
with fasting, weeping, and mourning.ad
13 Tear your hearts,ae
not just your clothes,af
and return to the Lord your God.
For he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger, abounding in faithful love,
and he relents from sending disaster.ag
14 Who knows? He may turn and relentah
and leave a blessing behind him,ai
so you can offer a grain offering and a drink offering
to the Lord your God.aj
15 Blow the trumpet in Zion!ak
Announce a sacred fast;al
proclaim a solemn assembly.
sanctify the congregation;am
gather the infants,
even babies nursing at the breast.
Let the groom leave his bedroom,ao
and the bride her honeymoon chamber.
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
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.
21 Don’t be afraid, land;k
rejoice and be glad,
for the Lord has done astonishing things.l
22 Don’t be afraid, wild animals,
for the wilderness pastures have turned green,m
the trees bear their fruit,
and the fig tree and grapevine yield their riches.
23 Children of Zion,n rejoice and be glad
in the Lord your God,o
because he gives you the autumn rain
He sends showers for you,
both autumn and spring rainq as before.