Joel 2:12–27

The Lord Invites the People to Return to Him

¹²“But even now,” declares the Lord, 

“return to me with all your heart— 

with fasting, crying, and mourning.” 

¹³Tear your hearts, not your clothes. 

Return to the Lord your God. 

He is merciful and compassionate, 

patient, and always ready to forgive 

and to change his plans about disaster. 

¹⁴Who knows? 

He may reconsider and change his plan 

and leave a blessing for you. 

Then you could give grain offerings and wine offerings 

to the Lord your God. 

¹⁵Blow the ram’s horn in Zion. 

Schedule a time to fast. 

Call for an assembly. 

¹⁶Gather the people. 

Prepare them for a holy meeting. 

Assemble the leaders. 

Gather the children, even the nursing infants. 

Grooms leave their rooms. 

Brides leave their chambers. 

¹⁷The priests who serve the Lord cry 

between the altar and the entrance to the temple. 

They say, 

“Spare your people, O Lord. 

Don’t let the people who belong to you become a disgrace. 

Don’t let the nations ridicule them. 

Why should people ask, ‘Where is their God?’ ” 

The Lord Will Give Earthly Blessings to His People

¹⁸Then the Lord became concerned about his land, 

and he had pity on his people. 

¹⁹The Lord said to his people, 

“I am going to send grain, new wine, and olive oil to you. 

You will be satisfied with them. 

I will no longer make you a disgrace among the nations. 

²⁰“I will keep the northern ⸤army⸥ far from you, 

and I will force it into a dry and barren land. 

The soldiers in front will be forced into the eastern sea. 

The soldiers in back will be forced into the western sea. 

A foul odor will rise from the dead bodies. 

They will stink.” 

He has done great things! 

²¹Land, do not be afraid. 

Be glad and rejoice. 

The Lord has done great things! 

²²Wild animals, do not be afraid. 

The pastures in the wilderness have turned green. 

The trees have produced their fruit. 

There are plenty of figs and grapes. 

²³People of Zion, be glad and find joy in the Lord your God. 

The Lord has given you the Teacher of Righteousness.^b

He has sent the autumn rain and the spring rain as before. 

²⁴The threshing floors^cwill be filled with grain. 

The vats will overflow with new wine and olive oil. 

²⁵“Then I will repay you for the years 

that the mature locusts, the adult locusts, 

the grasshoppers, and the young locusts ate your crops. 

(They are the large army that I sent against you.) 

²⁶You will have plenty to eat, and you will be full. 

You will praise the name of the Lord your God, 

who has performed miracles for you. 

My people will never be ashamed again. 

²⁷You will know that I am in Israel. 

I am the Lord your God, and there is no other. 

My people will never be ashamed again.^d