Joel 2
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International Standard VersionChristian Standard Bible
1"Sound the ram's horn in Zion! Sound an alarm on my holy mountain! Tremble, all of you inhabitants of the land, because the Day of the LORD is coming. Oh, how near it is!1Blow the horn in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the residents of the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming; in fact, it is near--
2A day of doom and gloom, a day of clouds and shadows like the dawn spreads out to cover the mountains— a people strong and robust. Never has there been anything like it, neither will anything follow to compare with it, even through the lifetime of generation upon generation." 2a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and total darkness, like the dawn spreading over the mountains; a great and strong people appears, such as never existed in ages past and never will again in all the generations to come.
3"A fire blazes in their presence, and behind them a conflagration rages. Before they come, the land is like the garden in Eden; after they leave, there is only a barren wasteland. Indeed, nothing escapes them.3A fire devours in front of them, and behind them a flame blazes. The land in front of them is like the garden of Eden, but behind them, it is like a desert wasteland; there is no escape from them.
4As to their form, they're like horses; and like chariot horses, how they can run!4Their appearance is like that of horses, and they gallop like war horses.
5They leap like the rumbling of chariots echoing from mountain tops, like the roar of wild fire that devours the chaff, as an army firmly established in battle array.5They bound on the tops of the mountains. Their sound is like the sound of chariots, like the sound of fiery flames consuming stubble, like a mighty army deployed for war.
6The people are terrified in their presence; every face grows pale. 6Nations writhe in horror before them; all faces turn pale.
7They run like elite soldiers, climbing ramparts like men trained for war. Each man advances in proper order, never breaking rank.7They attack as warriors attack; they scale walls as men of war do. Each goes on his own path, and they do not change their course.
8Neither does a man crowd his fellow soldier; each one marches in his own path. When they fall by the sword they are not injured.8They do not push each other; each proceeds on his own path. They dodge the arrows, never stopping.
9They swarm through the city, running upon its ramparts. Climbing atop the houses, they enter through windows like a thief."9They storm the city; they run on the wall; they climb into the houses; they enter through the windows like thieves.
10"The land quivers in their presence; even the heavens shake. The sun and moon will grow dark, and the stars will stop shining.10The earth quakes before them; the sky shakes. The sun and moon grow dark, and the stars cease their shining.
11The LORD will shout in the presence of his forces, because his encampment is very great; for powerful is he who carries out his message. Truly the Day of the LORD is great, and very terrifying. Who will be able to survive it?"11The LORD makes his voice heard in the presence of his army. His camp is very large; those who carry out his command are powerful. Indeed, the day of the LORD is terrible and dreadful--who can endure it?
12"Yet even now," declares the LORD, "Turn back to me with your whole heart, with fasting, tears, and mourning.12Even now--this is the LORD's declaration--turn to me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.
13Tear your hearts, not your garments; and turn back to the LORD your God. For he is gracious and compassionate, slow to become angry, overflowing in gracious love, and grieves about this evil.13Tear your hearts, not just your clothes, and return to the LORD your God. For he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in faithful love, and he relents from sending disaster.
14Who knows? He will turn back and relent, will he not, leaving behind a blessing, even a grain offering and drink offering for the LORD your God?"14Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave a blessing behind him, so you can offer grain and wine to the LORD your God.
15"Sound the ram's horn in Zion! Dedicate a fast and call for a solemn assembly!15Blow the horn in Zion! Announce a sacred fast; proclaim an assembly.
16Gather the people! Dedicate the congregation! Bring in the elders. Gather the youngsters and even the nursing infants. Call the bridegroom from his wedding preparations, and the bride from her dressing room.16Gather the people; sanctify the congregation; assemble the aged; gather the infants, even babies nursing at the breast. Let the groom leave his bedroom, and the bride her honeymoon chamber.
17As they serve between the porch and the altar, let the priests and ministers of the LORD weep and pray: 'Spare your people, LORD, and do not make your heritage a disgrace so that nations ridicule them. Why should they say among the people, "Where is their God?"'"17Let the priests, the LORD's ministers, weep between the portico and the altar. Let them say: "Have pity on your people, LORD, and do not make your inheritance a disgrace, an object of scorn among the nations. Why should it be said among the peoples, 'Where is their God?'"
18Then the LORD will show great concern for his land, and will have compassion on his people.18Then the LORD became jealous for his land and spared his people.
19The LORD will say to his people, "Look! I will send you grain, new wine, and oil, and you will be content with them. I will no longer cause you to be a disgrace among the nations."19The LORD answered his people: Look, I am about to send you grain, new wine, and fresh oil. You will be satiated with them, and I will no longer make you a disgrace among the nations.
20"I will remove the northerners from you, driving them to a barren and desolate land— the front toward the Dead Sea and the back toward the Mediterranean. Their stench will rise, and their stinking odor will ascend, because they have done great things."20I will drive the northerner far from you and banish him to a dry and desolate land, his front ranks into the Dead Sea, and his rear guard into the Mediterranean Sea. His stench will rise; yes, his rotten smell will rise, for he has done astonishing things.
21"Stop being afraid, land! Rejoice and be glad, because the LORD will do great things.21Don't be afraid, land; rejoice and be glad, for the LORD has done astonishing things.
22Stop being afraid, beasts of the field, because the desert pastures will bloom, the trees will bear their fruit, and the fig tree and vine will deliver their wealth.22Don't be afraid, wild animals, for the wilderness pastures have turned green, the trees bear their fruit, and the fig tree and grapevine yield their riches.
23And so be glad, children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God, because he has given you the right amount of early rain, and he will cause the rain to fall for you, both the early rain and the later rain as before.23Children of Zion, rejoice and be glad in the LORD your God, because he gives you the autumn rain for your vindication. He sends showers for you, both autumn and spring rain as before.
24The threshing floors will be smothered in grain, and the vats will overflow with wine and oil.24The threshing floors will be full of grain, and the vats will overflow with new wine and fresh oil.
25"Then I will restore to you the years that the locust swarm devoured, as did the young locust, the other locusts, and the ravaging locust, that great army of mine that I sent among you.25I will repay you for the years that the swarming locust ate, the young locust, the destroying locust, and the devouring locust--my great army that I sent against you.
26You will have plenty to eat, and will be fully satisfied. You will praise the name of the LORD your God, who has performed wonders specifically for you. And my people will never be ashamed.26You will have plenty to eat and be satisfied. You will praise the name of the LORD your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. My people will never again be put to shame.
27As a result, you will know that I am in the midst of Israel; that I myself am the LORD your God— and there is none other! And my people will never be ashamed."27You will know that I am present in Israel and that I am the LORD your God, and there is no other. My people will never again be put to shame.
28 "Then it will come about at a later time that I will pour out my Spirit on every person. Your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your elderly people will dream dreams, and your young people will see visions.28After this I will pour out my Spirit on all humanity; then your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your old men will have dreams, and your young men will see visions.
29Also at that time I will pour out my Spirit upon men and women servants.29I will even pour out my Spirit on the male and female slaves in those days.
30I will display warnings in the heavens, and on the earth blood, fire, and columns of smoke.30I will display wonders in the heavens and on the earth: blood, fire, and columns of smoke.
31The sun will be given over to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the coming of the great and terrifying Day of the LORD.31The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes.
32And everyone who calls upon the name of the LORD will be delivered. For as the LORD has said, 'In Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be those who escape, the survivors whom the LORD is calling.'"32Then everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved, for there will be an escape for those on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, as the LORD promised, among the survivors the LORD calls.
The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.
Joel 1
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