Joel 2:2–11

²A day of darkness and gloom,

a day of cloud and thick darkness,

like the dawn spreads on the mountains,

a great and strong army!

There has been nothing like it from old,

and after it nothing will be again for generations to come.^c

³Before them^d a fire devours,

and behind them a flame burns.

Like the garden of Eden is the land before them,^e

and after them it is like a desolate desert,

and nothing can escape them.

⁴Like the appearance of horses is their appearance,

and like horsemen they run;

⁵like the sound of chariots on the tops of the mountains, they leap about;

like the sound of a flame of fire

devouring stubble;

like a strong army arranged

in rows for battle.

⁶From before them^f nations writhe,

all faces turn pale.^g

⁷They run like mighty warriors,^h

they scale the wall like men of war;

each goes on its own way,

and they do not swerve from their paths.

⁸They do not jostle one another;ⁱ

each goes on its own trail;

and through the falling weapons,^j

they are not halted.

⁹In the city they rush forth;

on the walls^k they run.

Into the houses they climb up;

through the windows

they enter like a thief.

¹⁰Before them^l the earth quakes;

the heavens tremble;

the sun and the moon grow dark,

and the stars have withheld^m their splendor

¹¹And Yahweh uttersⁿ his voice before his army,

because his encampment is very large;

strong is the one who carries out his decree,

for great is the day of Yahweh

and exceedingly fearful.

Who can endure it?