Joel 2:2–11

a day of darkness^f and gloom,^gh

a day of cloudsⁱ and blackness.^j

Like dawn spreading across the mountains

a large and mighty army^k comes,

such as never was of old^l

nor ever will be in ages to come.

Before them fire^m devours,

behind them a flame blazes.

Before them the land is like the garden of Eden,ⁿ

behind them, a desert waste^o—

nothing escapes them.

They have the appearance of horses;^p

they gallop along like cavalry.

With a noise like that of chariots^q

they leap over the mountaintops,

like a crackling fire^r consuming stubble,

like a mighty army drawn up for battle.

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

every face turns pale.^t

They charge like warriors;^u

they scale walls like soldiers.

They all march in line,^v

not swerving^w from their course.

They do not jostle each other;

each marches straight ahead.

They plunge through defenses

without breaking ranks.

They rush upon the city;

they run along the wall.

They climb into the houses;^x

like thieves they enter through the windows.^y

Before them the earth shakes,^z

the heavens tremble,^a

the sun and moon are darkened,^b

and the stars no longer shine.^c

The Lord^d thunders^e

at the head of his army;^f

his forces are beyond number,

and mighty is the army that obeys his command.

The day of the Lord is great;^g

it is dreadful.

Who can endure it?^h