Joel 2

Thomson(i) 1 Blow the trumpet in Sion; make proclamation on my holy mountain. And let all the inhabitants of the land be alarmed. For the day of the Lord is approaching; for it is near; 2 a day of darkness and gloom; a day of clouds and thick darkness. Like dawn, there shall be poured out on the mountains a people numerous and powerful, the like of them hath never been, nor shall be any more to the years of all generations. 3 Before them is a kindling fire, and all behind them a glowing flame. Before them the land is like a pleasure garden, and behind them, a scene of desolation: and there is none who can escape them. 4 Their appearance is like the appearance of horses; and like horsemen they can pursue. 5 With a noise like that of chariots they will bound over the tops of mountains and their noise is like that of a flaming fire consuming stubble. They are like a people numerous and powerful, arrayed for battle 6 At their presence peoples will be appalled and every face covered with blackness. 7 They can run like warriors and like mighty warriors scale walls; and every one will march in his own path. They will not alter their lines of march; 8 nor will any one separate from his comrade. They will march loaded with their arms, and though they fall on their weapons they shall not be killed. 9 They will surprise the city and run upon the walls; they will climb up the houses and enter at windows like thieves. 10 At their presence the earth will be confounded and the heaven shaken, and the sun and the moon will be darkened, and the stars will withdraw their refulgence, 11 and the Lord will utter his voice before his army. Because the circuit of his camp is very large; because the operation of his words is irresistible; because the day of the Lord is great, extremely awful; who therefore shall be able to abide it? 12 Now therefore saith the Lord your God, turn to me with your whole heart, and with fasting and with weeping and with mourning. 13 Rend your hearts and not your garments, and turn to the Lord your God; for he is gracious and merciful, long suffering and full of compassion, and relenteth at evils. 14 Who knoweth but he will turn and relent, and leave behind him a blessing and a sacrifice and a libation for the Lord your God. 15 Sound the trumpet in Sion. Appoint a fast; proclaim a solemn act of worship. 16 Assemble the people; sanctify the congregation; choose elders. Bring together infants at the breast. Let the bridegroom come forth from his chamber and the bride from her wardrobe. 17 At the foot of the altar, let the priests who minister to the Lord, weep, and say, Spare, Lord, thy people; and give not up thy heritage to reproach; for the nations to rule over them. That they may not say among the nations, "Where is their God?" 18 the Lord was indeed jealous for his land and spared his people. 19 And the Lord answered and said to his people, Behold I will send you corn and wine and oil, and with them you shall be plentifully supplied. And I will no more make you a reproach among the nations. 20 This army from the north I will remove from you, and drive it to a land without water, and destroy its front in the first and its rear in the last sea: and its smell shall come up and its stench shall ascend, because it hath magnified its works. 21 [p] Take courage, land, rejoice and be glad; for it is the Lord who made it great to perform exploits. 22 Take courage, beasts of the field; for the plains of the wilderness are in bloom. Because the trees have yielded their fruit; the fig tree and the vine have put forth their strength; 23 rejoice therefore, ye children of Sion and exult in the Lord your God: for he hath given you this food for righteousness, and he will distil upon you the former and the latter rain as heretofore. 24 And your threshing floors shall be filled with corn, and your vats shall overflow with wine and oil. 25 [J] I will indeed make you compensation for what hath been devoured by the grasshopper and the locust, the palmer Worm and the mildew; that great army of mine which I sent against you. 26 And you shall eat plentifully and be satisfied, and shall praise the name of the Lord your God, who hath dealt wonderfully with you; and my people shall never be put to shame. 27 And you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I the Lord am your God and besides me there is no other; and my people shall never be put to shame. 28 And it shall come to pass after these things that I will pour out a portion of my spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy; and your old men shall dream dreams; and your young men shall see visions. 29 And on my servants and on my hand maids in those days I will pour out a portion of my spirit. 30 And I will exhibit wonders in heaven and on the earth, blood and fire and smoky vapour. 31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and illustrious day of the Lord. 32 But whoever will call on the name of the Lord shall be saved; for on mount Sion and in Jerusalem shall be the Saviour, as the Lord hath said, and the publishers of glad tidings, whom the Lord hath called.