Joel 2:18–32

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.

The Day of the

²⁸“Afterwards I will pour out my Spirit on everyone:

your sons and daughters will proclaim my message;

your old people will have dreams,

and your young people will see visions.

^29*At that time I will pour out my Spirit

even on servants, both men and women.

^30*“I will give warnings of that day

in the sky and on the earth;

there will be bloodshed, fire, and clouds of smoke.

^31*The sun will be darkened,

and the moon will turn red as blood

before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes.

^32*But all who ask the Lord for help will be saved.

As the Lord has said,

‘Some in Jerusalem will escape;

those whom I choose will survive.’ ”