2 A 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

3 ⌊Before 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.

4 Like the appearance of horses is their appearance,

and like horsemen they run;

5 like 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.

6 ⌊From before them⌋f nations writhe,

all faces ⌊turn pale⌋.g

7 They 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.

8 They do not jostle ⌊one another⌋;i

each goes on its own trail;

and through the falling weapons,j

they are not halted.

9 In the city they rush forth;

on the wallsk they run.

Into the houses they climb up;

through the windows

they enter like a thief.

10 ⌊Before them⌋l the earth quakes;

the heavens tremble;

the sun and the moon grow dark,

and the stars ⌊have withheld⌋m their splendor

11 And Yahweh ⌊utters⌋n 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?