Joel 2

The Day of the LORD

1 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sound the alarm on My holy mountain. Let everybody in the land start shaking, because the day of the LORD is coming, it is close.

2 A day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness. Like dawn spreading over the mountains, a massive and powerful army is coming, nothing like it before, nothing like it again for generations.

3 Fire burns in front of them and flames follow behind. The land before them looks like the Garden of Eden, but behind them it is a wasteland. Nothing escapes.

4 They look like horses, they charge like cavalry.

5 They sound like chariots racing over mountaintops, like fire crackling through dry grass, like a powerful army ready for war.

6 Nations shake in front of them. Faces turn pale.

7 They run like warriors, climb walls like soldiers. Each one stays in their lane, they do not break ranks.

8 They do not bump into each other, each one moves straight ahead. Even when they break through weapons, they do not stop.

9 They rush the city, run on the walls, climb into houses, slip through windows like thieves.

10 The earth shakes before them, the sky trembles. The sun and moon go dark, and the stars stop shining.

11 The LORD shouts at the head of His army. His camp is massive, His command is strong. The day of the LORD is great and terrifying, who can survive it,

A Call to Repentance

12 Even now, says the LORD, turn back to Me with all your heart, with fasting, crying, and mourning.

13 Tear your hearts, not your clothes. Return to the LORD your God, because He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, full of loyal love, and He holds back judgment.

14 Who knows, He might turn around and bless you, leave behind a blessing, grain and drink offerings for the LORD your God.

15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, call a fast, gather everybody.

16 Bring the people together. Make it holy. Gather the elders, bring the kids, even the babies. Let the groom leave his room and the bride leave her chamber.

17 Let the priests, the LORD’s servants, cry between the porch and the altar. Let them say, “Spare Your people, LORD. Do not make Your inheritance a joke, something nations mock. Why should people say, ‘Where is their God?’”

The Lord’s Answer

18 Then the LORD will be jealous for His land and show compassion to His people.

19 The LORD will answer them, “I am sending you grain, wine, and oil, and you will be satisfied. I will not make you a disgrace among the nations anymore.

20 I will drive the northern army far away, push them into a dry and barren land. Their front will go into the eastern sea, their back into the western sea, and the stench will rise.” The LORD has done great things.

21 Do not be afraid, land. Rejoice and be glad, because the LORD has done great things.

22 Do not be afraid, wild animals, because the pastures are growing again. The trees are bearing fruit, the fig tree and vine are producing.

23 Rejoice, people of Zion. Be glad in the LORD your God, because He gives you the early rain for righteousness. He sends the rain, early and late, like before.

24 The threshing floors will be full of grain, and the vats will overflow with wine and oil.

25 I will restore to you the years the locusts ate, the swarming, hopping, destroying, and cutting locusts, My great army I sent against you.

26 You will eat plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God who dealt with you in a wonderful way. My people will never be put to shame again.

27 You will know I am in the middle of Israel. I am the LORD your God, and there is no other. My people will never be put to shame.

God’s Spirit Poured Out

28 After this, I will pour out My Spirit on everybody. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.

29 Even on servants, men and women, I will pour out My Spirit in those days.

30 I will show wonders in the heavens and on earth, blood, fire, and columns of smoke.

31 The sun will turn to darkness and the moon to blood before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes.

32 And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved. Because on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be escape, just as the LORD said, among the survivors the LORD calls.