Joel 2

1Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain; let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of Jehovah cometh, for it is nigh at hand;

1Blow the trumpet in Zion! Sound the alarm on my holy mountain! Let everyone in the land tremble, because the day of the LORD is coming; it is very near.

2a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, as the dawn spread upon the mountains; a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after them, even to the years of many generations.

2It is a day of darkness and gloom, a day of thick clouds and deep shadows, spreading over the mountains like the dawn. A massive and powerful army is coming—something like it has never happened before, and nothing like it will ever happen again for many generations.

3A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and none hath escaped them.

3Fire burns in front of them, and flames blaze behind them. Before they arrive, the land is like the Garden of Eden, but after they pass, it is a ruined desert; nothing escapes them.

4The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so do they run.

4They look like horses, and they run as fast as war horses.

5Like the noise of chariots on the tops of the mountains do they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.

5They leap over the mountaintops with a noise like rattling chariots, like the crackling of fire burning up dry straw, or like a mighty army preparing for battle.

6At their presence the peoples are in anguish; all faces are waxed pale.

6Nations tremble with fear when they see them; every face turns pale.

7They run like mighty men; they climb the wall like men of war; and they march every one on his ways, and they break not their ranks.

7They charge like warriors; they climb walls like soldiers. They all march straight ahead in line, never breaking their formation.

8Neither doth one thrust another; they march every one in his path; and they burst through the weapons, and break not off their course.

8They do not crowd each other; everyone stays in his own path. They lunge through defenses without stopping their advance.

9They leap upon the city; they run upon the wall; they climb up into the houses; they enter in at the windows like a thief.

9They swarming into the city; they run along the walls. They climb into the houses, entering through the windows like thieves.

10The earth quaketh before them; the heavens tremble; the sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining.

10The earth quakes before them, and the heavens shake. The sun and moon grow dark, and the stars stop shining.

11And Jehovah uttereth his voice before his army; for his camp is very great; for he is strong that executeth his word; for the day of Jehovah is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?

11The LORD thunders his voice at the head of his army. His camp is vast, and those who obey his command are powerful. The day of the LORD is great and very terrifying; who can survive it?

12Yet even now, saith Jehovah, turn ye unto me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:

12'Even now,' declares the LORD, 'turn back to me with all your heart—fasting, weeping, and mourning.'

13and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto Jehovah your God; for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

13Don't just tear your clothes in grief, but tear your hearts. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to get angry, full of constant love, and he is ready to stop the punishment.

14Who knoweth whether he will not turn and repent, and leave a blessing behind him, even a meal-offering and a drink-offering unto Jehovah your God?

14Who knows? He might change his mind and leave a blessing behind for you, so you can again give grain offerings and drink offerings to the LORD your God.

15Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly;

15Blow the trumpet in Zion! Prepare for a holy fast; call a special meeting.

16gather the people, sanctify the assembly, assemble the old men, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts; let the bridegroom go forth from his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.

16Gather the people together. Prepare the congregation. Bring the elders, the children, and even nursing babies. Let the bridegroom leave his room and the bride leave her chamber.

17Let the priests, the ministers of Jehovah, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Jehovah, and give not thy heritage to reproach, that the nations should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the peoples, Where is their God?

17Let the priests, who serve the LORD, weep between the entry porch and the altar. Let them pray, 'Spare your people, LORD! Do not let your special possession be disgraced or mocked by other nations. Why should the people of other lands ask, "Where is their God?"'

18Then was Jehovah jealous for his land, and had pity on his people.

18Then the LORD became concerned for his land and had pity on his people.

19And Jehovah answered and said unto his people, Behold, I will send you grain, and new wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith; and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations;

19The LORD answered his people: 'Look, I am sending you grain, new wine, and olive oil, enough to satisfy you fully. I will no longer let you be a disgrace among the nations.

20but I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive it into a land barren and desolate, its forepart into the eastern sea, and its hinder part into the western sea; and its stench shall come up, and its ill savor shall come up, because it hath done great things.

20I will drive the northern army far away from you into a parched and empty land. I will push their front rows into the Dead Sea and their back rows into the Mediterranean Sea. Their stench will rise because they have done such terrible things.'

21Fear not, O land, be glad and rejoice; for Jehovah hath done great things.

21Don't be afraid, land! Be glad and celebrate, for the LORD has done great things.

22Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field; for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth its fruit, the fig-tree and the vine do yield their strength.

22Don't be afraid, animals of the field! The desert pastures are turning green again. The trees are producing fruit; the fig trees and grapevines are yielding a full harvest.

23Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in Jehovah your God; for he giveth you the former rain in just measure, and he causeth to come down for you the rain, the former rain and the latter rain, in the first month.

23Be glad, people of Zion! Rejoice in the LORD your God. He is right to give you the autumn rains; he sends the heavy rain, both the autumn and spring rains, just as before.

24And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil.

24The threshing floors will be piled high with grain, and the vats will overflow with new wine and olive oil.

25And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the canker-worm, and the caterpillar, and the palmer-worm, my great army which I sent among you.

25'I will pay you back for the years that the swarming locusts ate—the hopping locusts, the stripping locusts, and the cutting locusts—my great army that I sent against you.

26And ye shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and shall praise the name of Jehovah your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you; and my people shall never be put to shame.

26You will have plenty to eat and be satisfied. You will praise the name of the LORD your God, who has done miracles for you; my people will never be put to shame again.

27And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am Jehovah your God, and there is none else; and my people shall never be put to shame.

27Then you will know that I am here among the people of Israel. You will know that I am the LORD your God and there is no other. My people will never be put to shame again.

28And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

28After this, I will pour out my Spirit on all kinds of people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will have dreams, and your young men will see visions.

29and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my Spirit.

29In those days, I will even pour out my Spirit on servants, both men and women.

30And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.

30I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth: blood, fire, and clouds of smoke.

31The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of Jehovah cometh.

31The sun will become dark and the moon will turn as red as blood before the great and terrifying day of the LORD arrives.

32And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of Jehovah shall be delivered; for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those that escape, as Jehovah hath said, and among the remnant those whom Jehovah doth call.

32But everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved. For some will escape on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, just as the LORD has promised; these are the survivors whom the LORD calls.'