Joel 2:12–18

God’s Call for Repentance

¹²Even now—

this is the Lord’s declaration—

turn to Me with all your heart, ^s

with fasting, weeping, and mourning. ^t

¹³Tear your hearts, ^u

not just your clothes, ^v

and return to the Lord your God.

For He is gracious and compassionate,

slow to anger, rich in faithful love,

and He relents from sending disaster. ^w

¹⁴Who knows? He may turn and relent ^x

and leave a blessing behind Him, ^y

so you can offer grain and wine

to the Lord your God. ^z

¹⁵Blow the horn in Zion! ^a

Announce a sacred fast; ^b

proclaim an assembly.

¹⁶Gather the people;

sanctify the congregation; ^c

assemble the aged; ^de

gather the children,

even those nursing at the breast.

Let the groom leave his bedroom, ^f

and the bride her honeymoon chamber.

¹⁷Let the priests, ^gthe Lord’s ministers,

weep between the portico and the altar. ^h

Let them say:

“Have pity on Your people, Lord, ⁱ

and do not make Your inheritance a disgrace, ^j

an object of scorn among the nations.

Why should it be said among the peoples,

‘Where is their God?’ ” ^k

God’s Response to His People

¹⁸Then the Lord became jealous for His land ^land spared His people. ^m