LEB JOEL section

The Day of Yahweh is Near

2 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?

2:? Hebrew “shofar”

2:? Literally “mountain of my holiness”

2:? Literally “until years of generations”

2:? Literally “before the presence of it”

2:? Or “From in front of it,” or “From the presence of it”

2:? Literally “gather paleness”

2:? That is, the “great and strong army” (see 2:2)

2:? Literally “each man his brother”

2:? Hebrew “weapon”

2:? Hebrew “wall”

2:? Literally “Before the presence of it”

2:? Literally “gathered”

2:? Literally “gives”

LEB by section JOEL 2:1

The Day of Yahweh is Near