Joel 2:2–11

²a day of darkness^e and gloom,^f

a day of clouds^g and blackness.^h

Like dawn spreading across the mountains

a large and mighty armyⁱ comes,

such as never was in ancient times^j

nor ever will be in ages to come.

³Before them fire^k devours,

behind them a flame blazes.

Before them the land is like the garden of Eden,^l

behind them, a desert waste^m—

nothing escapes them.

⁴They have the appearance of horses;ⁿ

they gallop along like cavalry.

⁵With a noise like that of chariots^o

they leap over the mountaintops,

like a crackling fire^p consuming stubble,

like a mighty army drawn up for battle.

⁶At the sight of them, nations are in anguish;^q

every face turns pale.^r

⁷They charge like warriors;^s

they scale walls like soldiers.

They all march in line,^t

not swerving^u from their course.

⁸They do not jostle each other;

each marches straight ahead.

They plunge through defenses

without breaking ranks.

⁹They rush upon the city;

they run along the wall.

They climb into the houses;^v

like thieves they enter through the windows.^w

¹⁰Before them the earth shakes,^x

the heavens tremble,^y

the sun and moon are darkened,^z

and the stars no longer shine.^a

¹¹The Lord^b thunders^c

at the head of his army;^d

his forces are beyond number,

and mighty is the army that obeys his command.

The day of the Lord is great;^e

it is dreadful.

Who can endure it?^f