Joel 2:12–17

“Yet even now,” declares the Lord,

“return to me with all your heart,

with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;

and rend your hearts and not your garments.”

Return to the Lord your God,

for he is gracious and merciful,

slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;

and he relents over disaster.

Who knows whether he will not turn and relent,

and leave a blessing behind him,

a grain offering and a drink offering

for the Lord your God?

Blow the trumpet in Zion;

consecrate a fast;

call a solemn assembly;

gather the people.

Consecrate the congregation;

assemble the elders;

gather the children,

even nursing infants.

Let the bridegroom leave his room,

and the bride her chamber.

Between the vestibule and the altar

let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep

and say, “Spare your people, O Lord,

and make not your heritage a reproach,

a byword among the nations.

Why should they say among the peoples,

‘Where is their God?’ ”

“Even now,” declares the Lord,

“return to me with all your heart,

with fasting and weeping and mourning.”

Rend your heart

and not your garments.

Return to the Lord your God,

for he is gracious and compassionate,

slow to anger and abounding in love,

and he relents from sending calamity.

Who knows? He may turn and relent

and leave behind a blessing—

grain offerings and drink offerings

for the Lord your God.

Blow the trumpet in Zion,

declare a holy fast,

call a sacred assembly.

Gather the people,

consecrate the assembly;

bring together the elders,

gather the children,

those nursing at the breast.

Let the bridegroom leave his room

and the bride her chamber.

Let the priests, who minister before the Lord,

weep between the portico and the altar.

Let them say, “Spare your people, Lord.

Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn,

a byword among the nations.

Why should they say among the peoples,

‘Where is their God?’ ”

Even now—

this is the Lord’s declaration—

turn to me with all your heart,

with fasting, weeping, and mourning.

Tear your hearts,

not just your clothes,

and return to the Lord your God.

For he is gracious and compassionate,

slow to anger, abounding in faithful love,

and he relents from sending disaster.

Who knows? He may turn and relent

and leave a blessing behind him,

so you can offer a grain offering and a drink offering

to the Lord your God.

Blow the trumpet in Zion!

Announce a sacred fast;

proclaim a solemn assembly.

Gather the people;

sanctify the congregation;

assemble the aged;

gather the infants,

even babies nursing at the breast.

Let the groom leave his bedroom,

and the bride her honeymoon chamber.

Let the priests, the Lord’s ministers,

weep between the portico and the altar.

Let them say,

“Have pity on your people, Lord,

and do not make your inheritance a disgrace,

an object of scorn among the nations.

Why should it be said among the peoples,

‘Where is their God?’ ”

That is why the Lord says,

“Turn to me now, while there is time.

Give me your hearts.

Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning.

Don’t tear your clothing in your grief,

but tear your hearts instead.”

Return to the Lord your God,

for he is merciful and compassionate,

slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.

He is eager to relent and not punish.

Who knows? Perhaps he will give you a reprieve,

sending you a blessing instead of this curse.

Perhaps you will be able to offer grain and wine

to the Lord your God as before.

Blow the ram’s horn in Jerusalem!

Announce a time of fasting;

call the people together

for a solemn meeting.

Gather all the people—

the elders, the children, and even the babies.

Call the bridegroom from his quarters

and the bride from her private room.

Let the priests, who minister in the Lord’s presence,

stand and weep between the entry room to the Temple and the altar.

Let them pray, “Spare your people, Lord!

Don’t let your special possession become an object of mockery.

Don’t let them become a joke for unbelieving foreigners who say,

‘Has the God of Israel left them?’ ”

“And even now,” declares Yahweh,

“return to me with all your heart,

with fasting, and weeping, and wailing.”

Rend your hearts and not your garments,

and return to Yahweh your God,

because he is gracious and compassionate,

slow to anger and great in loyal love,

and relenting from harm.

Who knows whether he will turn and relent,

and leave a blessing behind him,

an offering and a libation,

for Yahweh your God?

Blow the trumpet in Zion,

sanctify a fast, call an assembly;

gather 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.

Between 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?’ ”

Therefore also now, saith the Lord,

Turn ye even to me with all your heart,

And with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:

And rend your heart, and not your garments,

And turn unto the Lord your God:

For he is gracious and merciful,

Slow to anger, and of great kindness,

And repenteth him of the evil.

Who knoweth if he will return and repent,

And leave a blessing behind him;

Even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the Lord your God?

Blow the trumpet in Zion,

Sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:

Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders,

Gather the children, and those that suck the breasts:

Let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.

Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar,

And let them say, Spare thy people, O Lord,

And give not thine heritage to reproach,

That the heathen should rule over them:

Wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?