Joel 2:12–18

A Call to Repentance

¹²“And even now,” declares^o Yahweh,

“return to me with all your heart,

with fasting, and weeping, and wailing.”

¹³Rend your hearts^p and not your garments,

and return to Yahweh your God,

because he is gracious and compassionate,

slow to anger^q and great in loyal love,

and relenting from harm.

¹⁴Who knows whether he will turn and relent,

and leave a blessing behind him,

an offering and a libation,

for Yahweh your God?

¹⁵Blow the trumpet^r in Zion,

sanctify a fast, call an assembly;

¹⁶gather the people, consecrate the assembly;

assemble the elders, gather the children,

even those who are breast-feeding;

let the bridegroom come out from his private room,

and the bride from her canopy.

¹⁷Between the colonnade and the altar,

let the priests, the ministers of Yahweh, weep.

And let them say, “Take pity, Yahweh, on your people.

Do not make your inheritance a reproach,

a byword among the nations.

Why should they say among the nations,

‘Where is their God?’ ”

The Response and Promise of Yahweh

¹⁸Then Yahweh became jealous for his land

and took pity on his people.