Joel, 2

1. Blow the trumpet in Zion, sound the alarm on my holy mountain! Let all dwellers in the land tremble, for the day of Yahweh is coming. Yes, the day is fast approaching -

2. a day of gloom and darkness, a day of clouds and blackness. A vast and mighty army comes, like dawn spreading over the mountain, such as has never occurred before nor will happen again in the future.

3. In front a fire devours, behind a flame consumes. The land ahead that appears like a garden soon becomes like a desert, nothing escapes their onslaught.

4. They look like horses, they gallop along like chargers.

5. With the clattering of chariots, they leap over the mountains; with crackling like burning stubble, they charge - a mighty army arrayed for battle.

6. Before them nations are appalled, and every face turns pale.

7. They attack like warriors; they scale walls like soldiers. Marching in line, they move onward without swerving from their course,

8. without jostling one another, everyone of them marches straight ahead; amid a hail of arrows they run, they press without breaking ranks.

9. They rush upon the city; they leap over the walls; they break into the houses, like thieves enter through the windows.

10. Before them the earth shakes and the heavens tremble, the sun and moon grow dark and the stars lose their twinkle.

11. Yahweh thunders before his army, his vast and mighty forces. The day of Yahweh is exceedingly great, terrible and dreadful - who can endure it?

12. Yahweh says, "Yet even now, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, weeping and mourning.

13. Rend your heart, not your garment. Return to Yahweh, your God - gracious and compassionate." Yahweh is slow to anger, full of kindness, and he repents of having punished.

14. Who knows? Probably he will relent once more and spare some part of the harvest from which we may bring sacred offerings to Yahweh, your God.

15. Blow the trumpet in Zion, proclaim a sacred fast, call a solemn assembly.

16. Gather the people, sanctify the community, bring together the elders, even the children and infants at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his bed, and the bride her room.

17. Between the vestibule and the altar, let the priests, Yahweh's ministers, weep and say: Spare your people, Yahweh. Do not humble them or make them an object of scorn among the nations. Why should it be said among the peoples: Where is their God?

18. Yahweh has become jealous for his land; he has had pity on his people.

19. Yahweh has given an answer; he says to them, "I am sending you grain, new wine and oil which will fully satisfy you; never again will you be scorned by the nations.

20. I will drive far from you the enemy from the North and pursue him towards a land of drought and desolation: his vanguard to the Eastern Sea, his rearguard to the Western Sea. Its stench will rise everywhere. See that I do great things."

21. Fear not, O earth! exult and rejoice for Yahweh has acted magnificently!

22. Do not be afraid, beasts of the field, for the desert prairies are green again, the trees are with fruit, the fig tree and the vine have yielded their riches.

23. Sons of Zion, be glad! Rejoice in Yahweh your God, for he has sent you the blessing of autumn rain and showers - the autumn and spring rains as in the past.

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

25. I will compensate you for the years devastated by grasshoppers, may-bugs, crickets and locusts - the powerful army I sent against you.

26. You will eat and be satisfied, and you will praise the name of Yahweh, your God, who has done wonders for you.

27. And then you will know that I am in the midst of Israel, I, Yahweh your God, no other! Never again will my people be shamed.