Moff JOS 1 CHR 2 CHR EZRA NEH EST JOB PSA PROV ECC SNG JER LAM EZE DAN HOS JOEL AMOS OBA YNA MIC NAH HAB ZEP HAG ZEC MAL MAT MARK LUKE YHN ACTs ROM 1 COR 2 COR GAL EPH PHP COL 1 TH 2 TH 1 TIM 2 TIM TIT PHM HEB YAC 1 PET 2 PET 1 YHN 2 YHN 3 YHN YUD REV

JOEL C1 C2 C3

Moff JOEL Chapter 2

◄ JOEL 2 ► ║ ═ ©

2 Blow the bugle-blast in Sion,

sound the alarum upon my sacred hill,

till the citizens all tremble!

For [[the Eternal’s day is coming – here it is!

near it is!–

2 a dark day in a shroud,

a day of fog and cloud]]

here comes a huge host in power,

blackening the hills;

the like of it never has been,

the like of it never shall be

for years upon years to come;

3 before them fire devouring,

behind them flames a-blazing;

before them the land lies like an Eden paradise,

behind them it is a desolate desert–

for nothing escapes them.

4 They look like horses,

they run like war-horses,

5 as chariots rattle,

they leap on the hilltops,

like flames that crackle, consuming the straw,

like a vast army in battle-array.

6 Hearts are in anguish before them,

all faces turn pale.

7 They charge like warriors,

they advance like fighters,

each on his own track–

no tangling of paths–

8 none pushes his fellow,

each follows his own line;

they burst through weapons unbroken,

they rush on the city, run over the walls,

climb into the houses

and enter the windows like thieves.

10 At their advance the land is quaking,

the heavens are shaking,

sun and moon are dark,

the stars have ceased to shine,

11 and the Eternal thunders in front of his army

[[a mighty host is his,

and strong are they who execute his orders.

For the Eternal’s day is great and awful:

who can face it?]].

12 Yet even now, the Eternal promises,

turn to me with all your heart,

fasting, weeping, mourning,

13 come heart-broken, not with garments torn,

and turn to the Eternal One your God,

for he is gracious and compassionate,

slow to be angry, rich in love,

and ready to relent.

14 Who knows but he will again relent

and leave a blessing behind him,

that you may have sacrifices and libations

to offer to the Eternal One your God?

15 Blow a bugle-blast in Sion,

arrange a fast, assemble a gathering,

16 summon the people, arrange an assembly,

gather the old men and collect the children,

the very infants at the breast;

let the bridegroom leave his chamber,

and the bride her bower;

17 and let the priests, the Eternal’s ministers, weep loud

between the altar and the porch,

crying, “Eternal One, oh spare thy people,

leave not thy heritage to be taunted,

to be a by-word among pagans;

why should the nations sneer, ‘Where is their God?’ ”

18 Then the Eternal was stirred on behalf of his land,

in pity for his people;

19 the Eternal replied to his people,

“I will now send you corn and wine and oil,

till you have ample;

I will not leave you again

to be taunted by pagans;

20 and the foe from the north I will drive out,

thrusting him into a waste, dry land,

his van to the sea on the east,

and his rear to the sea on the west,

till he rots and the stench of him rises.”

21 Fear not, O land, rejoice and be glad,

for the Eternal has done great things.

22 Fear not, O beasts of the land,

for new grass covers the pastures of the downs.

The trees bear fruit,

the fig-tree and the vine are fertile;

23 O sons of Sion, be glad,

rejoice in the Eternal One your God,

for the early rain he has given you amply,

the winter rain he has poured upon you,

and sent the latter rain as of old.

24 The threshing-floors shall be full of grain,

the troughs shall overflow with wine and oil;

25 I will make up to you

for the years that the locusts ate,

the lopping, the swarming, the leaping, the devouring locusts,

that huge host I sent among you.

26 So shall you eat and be satisfied,

and praise the Eternal One your God,

who has dealt with you so wondrously.

27 ’Twill teach you that I am within Israel,

I the Eternal am your God alone,

and never again shall my people be derided.

28 Then shall it be that I pour out my spirit on all;

your sons and daughters shall be inspired,

your old men shall dream dreams,

your young men shall see visions;

29 even upon your slaves, both men and women,

I will pour out my spirit in those days.

30 And I will display portents

on earth and in the sky;

31 the sun shall be turned into darkness,

the moon into blood,

before the coming of the Eternal’s day,

that great and awful day.

32 But every worshipper of the Eternal shall be saved,

for Sion hill shall hold those who escape,

as the Eternal has declared,

and the fugitives whom the Eternal calls

shall be inside Jerusalem.

JOEL C1 C2 C3