The Day of Yahweh is Near

•  Blow the trumpet[fn] in Zion,
  • and sound the alarm on my holy mountain ![fn]
• Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble,
  • for the day of Yahweh is coming
    • — it is indeed near.
• 2 A day of darkness and gloom,
  • a day of cloud and thick darkness,
• like the dawn spreads on the mountains,
  • a great and strong army!
• There has been nothing like it from old,
  • and after it nothing will be again for generations to come .[fn]
• 3 Before them[fn] a fire devours,
  • and behind them a flame burns.
• Like the garden of Eden is the land before them ,[fn]
  • and after them it is like a desolate desert,
  • and nothing can escape them.
• 4 Like the appearance of horses is their appearance,
  • and like horsemen they run;
• 5 like the sound of chariots on the tops of the mountains, they leap about;
  • like the sound of a flame of fire
    • devouring stubble;
• like a strong army arranged
  • in rows for battle.
• 6 From before them[fn] nations writhe,
  • all faces turn pale .[fn]
• 7 They run like mighty warriors,[fn]
  • they scale the wall like men of war;
• each goes on its own way,
  • and they do not swerve from their paths.
• 8 They do not jostle one another ;[fn]
  • each goes on its own trail;
• and through the falling weapons,[fn]
  • they are not halted.
• 9 In the city they rush forth;
  • on the walls[fn] they run.
• Into the houses they climb up;
  • through the windows
    • they enter like a thief.
• 10 Before them[fn] the earth quakes;
  • the heavens tremble;
• the sun and the moon grow dark,
  • and the stars have withheld[fn] their splendor
• 11 And Yahweh utters[fn] his voice before his army,
  • because his encampment is very large;
• strong is the one who carries out his decree,
  • for great is the day of Yahweh
• and exceedingly fearful.
  • Who can endure it?
    

A Call to Repentance

• 12 “And even now,” declares[fn] Yahweh,
  • “return to me with all your heart,
• with fasting, and weeping, and wailing.”
  • 13 Rend your hearts[fn] and not your garments,
• and return to Yahweh your God,
  • because he is gracious and compassionate,
• slow to anger[fn] and great in loyal love,
  • and relenting from harm.
• 14 Who knows whether he will turn and relent,
  • and leave a blessing behind him,
• an offering and a libation,
  • for Yahweh your God?
• 15 Blow the trumpet[fn] in Zion,
  • sanctify a fast, call an assembly;
• 16 gather the people, consecrate the assembly;
  • assemble the elders, gather the children,
    • even those who are breast-feeding;
• let the bridegroom come out from his private room,
  • and the bride from her canopy.
• 17 Between the colonnade and the altar,
  • let the priests, the ministers of Yahweh, weep.
• And let them say, “Take pity, Yahweh, on your people.
  • Do not make your inheritance a reproach,
    • a byword among the nations.
• Why should they say among the nations,
  • ‘Where is their God?’ ”
    

The Response and Promise of Yahweh

• 18 Then Yahweh became jealous for his land
  • and took pity on his people.
• 19 And Yahweh answered and said to his people,
  • “Look at me, I am sending to you
• grain, new wine, and olive oil,
  • and you will be satisfied by it.
• I will not give you over any more
  • as a disgrace among the nations.
• 20 The northerners[fn]
  • I will remove from you;
• I will drive them to a desert
  • and desolate land,
• its[fn] front to the eastern sea,
  • and its rear into the western sea;
• its stench and odor will rise up
  • because he[fn] has done great things.
• 21 Do not fear, O land,
  • rejoice and be glad,
    • because Yahweh has done great things.
• 22 Do not fear, wild animals of the field,
  • because the pastures of the desert have put forth new green shoots,
• because the tree has produced its fruit,
  • the fig tree and the vine
    • have yielded their produce.
• 23 Be glad, O children of Zion,
  • be glad and rejoice in Yahweh your God,
• because he has given for you
  • the autumn rains for your righteousness,[fn]
    • and he has poured down[fn] for you rainwater,
• the autumn and spring rains, as before.
• 24 The threshing floors will be full with grain,
  • and the vats will overflow
    • with new wine and olive oil.
• 25 I will repay you the years
  • that the locust has eaten,
• the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter,
  • my mighty troops that I sent against you.
• 26 And you will eat abundantly and be satisfied,
  • and praise the name of Yahweh your God,
  • who has dealt with you wondrously .[fn]
• My people will never be ashamed .[fn]
• 27 And you will know that I am in the midst of Israel,
• and I am Yahweh,
  • your God, and there is no other.
• My people will never be ashamed again .[fn]