Joel 2:2–11

²A day of darkness and thick darkness, A day of cloud and thick darkness, As darkness spread on the mountains, A people numerous and mighty, Like it there hath not been from of old, And after it there is not again—till the years of generation and generation. ³Before it consumed hath fire, And after it burn doth a flame, As the garden of Eden is the land before it, And after it a wilderness—a desolation! And also an escape there hath not been to it, ⁴As the appearance of horses is its appearance, And as horsemen, so they run. ⁵As the noise of chariots, on the tops of the mountains they skip, As the noise of a flame of fire devouring stubble, As a mighty people set in array for battle. ⁶From its face pained are peoples, All faces have gathered paleness. ⁷As mighty ones they run, As men of war they go up a wall, And each in his own ways they do go, And they embarrass not their paths. ⁸And each his brother they press not, Each in his way they go on, If by the missile they fall, they are not cut off. ⁹In the city they run to and fro, On the wall they run, Into houses they go up by the windows, They go in as a thief. ¹⁰At their face trembled hath the earth, Shaken have the heavens, Sun and moon have been black, And stars have gathered up their shining. ¹¹And Jehovah hath given forth His voice before His force, For very great is His camp, For mighty is the doer of His word, For great is the day of Jehovah—very fearful, And who doth bear it?