2
1 Blow
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:
2 A
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.
3 A
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.
4 Their
appearance is as
the appearance of
horses,
and they run
as horsemen.
5 Like
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.
6 At
their presence the
peoples are in
anguish.
All faces have
grown pale.
7 They
run like mighty
men.
They climb the
wall like warriors.
They each march
in his line,
and they don’t swerve
off course.
8 One doesn’t
jostle another.
They each march
in their own path.
They burst
through the
defenses
and don’t break
ranks.
9 They
rush on the
city.
They run on
the wall.
They climb up
into the houses.
They enter in
at the windows
like thieves.
10 The
earth quakes
before them.
The heavens
tremble.
The sun and
the moon are
darkened,
and the
stars withdraw their
shining.
11 The
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.”
13 Tear
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.
14 Who
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.
15 Blow
the trumpet in
Zion!
Sanctify a fast.
Call a solemn
assembly.
16 Gather
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.
17 Let
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?’ ”
18 Then
the LORD was
jealous for
his land,
and had pity
on his people.
19 The
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.
20 But
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.
21 Land, don’t
be afraid.
Be glad and
rejoice, for the
LORD has done
great things.
22 Don’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.
24 The
threshing floors
will be full of
wheat,
and the vats
will overflow with
new wine and
oil.
25 I
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.
26 You
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.
27 You
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.
29 And also on the servants and
on the handmaids in those days,
I will pour out my Spirit.
30 I will show wonders in the
heavens and in the earth:
blood, fire, and pillars of smoke.
31 The sun will be turned into
darkness,
and the moon into blood,
before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes.
32 It 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.