Joel 2
1. Blow * ye the trumpet in Zion,and sound an alarm * in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants * of the land tremble * : for the day of the LORD cometh * , for it is nigh at hand;
2. A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread * upon the mountains: a great people and a strong;there hath not been * ever the like, neither shall be any more * after it, even to the years of many generations.
3. A fire devoureth * before them; and behind them a flame burneth * : the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.
4. The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run * .
5. Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap * , like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth * the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array * .
6. Before their face the people shall be much pained * : all faces shall gather * blackness.
7. They shall run * like mighty men; they shall climb * the wall like men of war; and they shall march * every one on his ways, and they shall not break * their ranks:
8. Neither shall one thrust * another; they shall walk * every one in his path: and when they fall * upon the sword, they shall not be wounded * .
9. They shall run to and fro * in the city;they shall run * upon the wall, they shall climb up * upon the houses; they shall enter in * at the windows like a thief.
10. The earth shall quake * before them; the heavens shall tremble * : the sun and the moon shall be dark * , and the stars shall withdraw * their shining:
11. And the LORD shall utter * his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth * his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible * ; and who can abide * it?
12. Therefore also now, saith * the LORD,turn * ye even to me with all your heart,and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
13. And rend * your heart, and not your garments, and turn * unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth * him of the evil.
14. Who knoweth * if he will return * and repent * , and leave * a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?
15. Blow * the trumpet in Zion,sanctify * a fast, call * a solemn assembly:
16. Gather * the people, sanctify * the congregation, assemble * the elders, gather * the children, and those that suck * the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth * of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.
17. Let the priests, the ministers * of the LORD, weep * between the porch and the altar, and let them say * , Spare * thy people, O LORD, and give * not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over * them: wherefore should they say * among the people, Where is their God?
18. Then will the LORD be jealous * for his land, and pity * his people.
19. Yea, the LORD will answer * and say * unto his people, Behold, I will send * you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied * therewith: and I will no more make * you a reproach among the heathen:
20. But I will remove far off * from you the northern army, and will drive * him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up * , and his ill savour shall come up * , because he hath done * great things * .
21. Fear * not, O land; be glad * and rejoice * : for the LORD will do * great things * .
22. Be not afraid * , ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring * , for the tree beareth * her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield * their strength.
23. Be glad * then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice * in the LORD your God: for he hath given * you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down * for you the rain, the former rain,and the latter rain in the first month.
24. And the floors shall be full * of wheat, and the fats shall overflow * with wine and oil.
25. And I will restore * to you the years that the locust hath eaten * , the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm,my great army which I sent * among you.
26. And ye shall eat * in plenty * , and be satisfied * , and praise * the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt * wondrously * with you: and my people shall never be ashamed * .
27. And ye shall know * that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed * .
28. And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out * my spirit upon all flesh;and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy * , your old men shall dream * dreams, your young men shall see * visions:
29. And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out * my spirit.
30. And I will shew * wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
31. The sun shall be turned * into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible * day of the LORD come * .
32. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call * on the name of the LORD shall be delivered * : for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said * , and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call * .
