Joel 2:12–27

A Call to Repentance

¹²“But even now,” says the Lord, “repent sincerely and return to me

with fasting and weeping and mourning.

¹³Let your broken heart show your sorrow;

tearing your clothes is not enough.”

Come back to the Lord your God.

He is kind and full of mercy;

he is patient and keeps his promise;

he is always ready to forgive and not punish.

¹⁴Perhaps the Lord your God will change his mind

and bless you with abundant crops.

Then you can offer him corn and wine.

¹⁵Blow the trumpet on Mount Zion;

give orders for a fast and call an assembly!

¹⁶Gather the people together;

prepare them for a sacred meeting;

bring the old people;

gather the children

and the babies too.

Even newly married couples must leave their room and come.

¹⁷The priests, serving the Lord

between the altar and the entrance of the Temple,

must weep and pray:

“Have pity on your people, Lord.

Do not let other nations despise us and mock us

by saying, ‘Where is your God?’ ”

God Restores Fertility to the Land

¹⁸Then the Lord showed concern for his land;

he had mercy on his people.

¹⁹He answered them:

“Now I am going to give you

corn and wine and olive oil,

and you will be satisfied.

Other nations will no longer despise you.

²⁰I will remove the locust army that came from the north

and will drive some of them into the desert.

Their front ranks will be driven into the Dead Sea,

their rear ranks into the Mediterranean.

Their dead bodies will stink.

I will destroy them because of all they have done to you.

²¹“Fields, don’t be afraid,

but be joyful and glad

because of all the Lord has done for you.

²²Animals, don’t be afraid.

The pastures are green;

the trees bear their fruit,

and there are plenty of figs and grapes.

²³“Be glad, people of Zion,

rejoice at what the Lord your God has done for you.

He has given you the right amount of autumn rain;^b

he has poured down the winter rain for you

and the spring rain as before.

²⁴The threshing places will be full of corn;

the pits beside the presses will overflow with wine and olive oil.

²⁵I will give you back what you lost

in the years when swarms of locusts ate your crops.

It was I who sent this army against you.

²⁶Now you will have plenty to eat, and be satisfied.

You will praise the Lord your God,

who has done wonderful things for you.

My people will never be despised again.

²⁷Then, Israel, you will know that I am among you,

and that I, the Lord, am your God

and there is no other.

My people will never be despised again.