Joel

The Army of Locusts

1Blow the ram’s horn in Zion;sound the alarm on My holy mountain!Let all who dwell in the land tremble,for the Day of the LORD is coming; indeed, it is near—

2a day of darkness and gloom,a day of clouds and blackness.Like the dawn overspreading the mountainsa great and strong army appears,such as never was of old,nor will ever be in ages to come.

3Before them a fire devours,and behind them a flame scorches.The land before them is like the Garden of Eden,but behind them, it is like a desert wasteland— surely nothing will escape them.

4Their appearance is like that of horses,and they gallop like swift steeds.

5With a sound like that of chariotsthey bound over the mountaintops,like the crackling of fire consuming stubble,like a mighty army deployed for battle.

6Nations writhe in horror before them;every face turns pale.

7They charge like mighty men;they scale the walls like men of war.Each one marches in formation,not swerving from the course.

8They do not jostle one another;each proceeds in his path.They burst through the defenses,never breaking ranks.

9They storm the city;they run along the wall;they climb into houses,entering through windows like thieves.

10Before them the earth quakes;the heavens tremble.The sun and moon grow dark,and the stars lose their brightness.

11The LORD raises His voicein the presence of His army.Indeed, His camp is very large,for mighty are those who obey His command.For the Day of the LORD is great and very dreadful.Who can endure it?

Return with All Your Heart

12“Yet even now,”declares the LORD,“return to Me with all your heart,with fasting, weeping, and mourning.”

13So rend your hearts and not your garments,and return to the LORD your God.For He is gracious and compassionate,slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. And He relents from sending disaster.

14Who knows? He may turn and relentand leave a blessing behind Him—grain and drink offeringsfor the LORD your God.

15Blow the ram’s horn in Zion,consecrate a fast, proclaim a sacred assembly.

16Gather the people, sanctify the congregation,assemble the aged, gather the children, even those nursing at the breast.Let the bridegroom leave his room,and the bride her chamber.

17Let the priests who minister before the LORDweep between the portico and the altar,saying, “Spare Your people, O LORD,and do not make Your heritage a reproach, an object of scorn among the nations.Why should they say among the peoples,‘Where is their God?’”

Restoration Promised

18Then the LORD became jealous for His land,and He spared His people.

19And the LORD answered His people: “Behold, I will send yougrain, new wine, and oil, and by them you will be satisfied.I will never again make youa reproach among the nations.

20The northern army I will drive away from you,banishing it to a barren and desolate land,its front ranks into the Eastern Sea,and its rear guard into the Western Sea.And its stench will rise;its foul odor will ascend. For He has done great things.

21Do not be afraid, O land;rejoice and be glad, for the LORD has done great things.

22Do not be afraid, O beasts of the field,for the open pastures have turned green,the trees bear their fruit,and the fig tree and vine yield their best.

23Be glad, O children of Zion,and rejoice in the LORD your God,for He has given you the autumn rainsfor your vindication.He sends you showers,both autumn and spring rains, as before.

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

25I will repay you for the years eaten by locusts—the swarming locust, the young locust,the destroying locust, and the devouring locust—My great army that I sent against you.

26You will have plenty to eat,until you are satisfied.You will praise the name of the LORD your God,who has worked wonders for you.My people will never againbe put to shame.

27Then you will know that I am present in Israeland that I am the LORD your God, and there is no other.My people will never againbe put to shame.

I Will Pour Out My Spirit

28And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people.Your sons and daughters will prophesy,your old men will dream dreams,your young men will see visions.

29Even on My menservants and maidservants,I will pour out My Spirit in those days.

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

31The sun will be turned to darknessand the moon to blood before the coming of the great and awesomeDay of the LORD.

32And everyone who calls on the name of the LORDwill be saved;for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalemthere will be deliverance, as the LORD has promised, among the remnant called by the LORD.

1Blow 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 comes, for it is close at hand:

2A day of darkness and gloominess,a day of clouds and thick darkness.As the dawn spreading on the mountains,a great and strong people; there has never been the like, neither will there be any more after them, even to the years of many generations.

3A fire devours before them,and behind them, a flame burns.The land is as the garden of Eden before them,and behind them, a desolate wilderness.Yes, and no one has escaped them.

4Their appearance is as the appearance of horses,and they run as horsemen.

5Like the noise of chariots on the tops of the mountains, they leap,like the noise of a flame of fire that devours the stubble, like a strong people set in battle array.

6At their presence the peoples are in anguish.All faces have grown pale.

7They run like mighty men.They climb the wall like warriors. They each march in his line, and they don’t swerve off course.

8One doesn’t jostle another.They each march in their own path. They burst through the defenses and don’t break ranks.

9They rush on the city.They run on the wall. They climb up into the houses. They enter in at the windows like thieves.

10The earth quakes before them.The heavens tremble. The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining.

11The LORD thunders his voice before his army,for his forces are very great; for he is strong who obeys his command; for the day of the LORD is great and very awesome, and who can endure it?

12“Yet even now,” says the LORD, “turn to me with all your heart,and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning.”

13Tear your heart and not your garments,and turn to the LORD, your God; for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, and relents from sending calamity.

14Who knows? He may turn and relent,and leave a blessing behind him, even a meal offering and a drink offering to the LORD, your God.

15Blow the trumpet in Zion!Sanctify a fast. Call a solemn assembly.

16Gather the people.Sanctify the assembly. Assemble the elders. Gather the children, and those who nurse from breasts.Let the bridegroom go out of his room,and the bride out of her chamber.

17Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar,and let them say, “Spare your people, LORD, and don’t give your heritage to reproach, that the nations should rule over them.Why should they say among the peoples,‘Where is their God?’”

18Then the LORD was jealous for his land,and had pity on his people.

19The LORD answered his people,“Behold,I will send you grain, new wine, and oil, and you will be satisfied with them; and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations.

20But I will remove the northern army far away from you,and will drive it into a barren and desolate land, its front into the eastern sea, and its back into the western sea; and its stench will come up, and its bad smell will rise.”Surely he has done great things.

21Land, don’t be afraid.Be glad and rejoice, for the LORD has done great things.

22Don’t be afraid, you animals of the field;for the pastures of the wilderness spring up, for the tree bears its fruit. The fig tree and the vine yield their strength.

23“Be glad then, you children of Zion,and rejoice in the LORD, your God; for he gives you the early rain in just measure, and he causes the rain to come down for you, the early rain and the latter rain, as before.

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

25I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten,the great locust, the grasshopper, and the caterpillar, my great army, which I sent among you.

26You will have plenty to eat and be satisfied,and will praise the name of the LORD, your God, who has dealt wondrously with you; and my people will never again be disappointed.

27You will know that I am among Israel,and that I am the LORD, your God, and there is no one else; and my people will never again be disappointed.

28“It will happen afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh;and your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions.

29And also on the servants and on the handmaids in those days,I will pour out my Spirit.

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

31The sun will be turned into darkness,and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes.

32It will happen that whoever will call on the LORD’s name shall be saved;for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be those who escape, as the LORD has said, and among the remnant, those whom the LORD calls.