Verses
1Blow the trumpet in Zion,
and sound an alarm in my holy mountain!
Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble,
for the day of the LORD comes,
for it is close at hand:
and sound an alarm in my holy mountain!
Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble,
for the day of the LORD comes,
for it is close at hand:
2A day of darkness and gloominess,
a day of clouds and thick darkness.
As the dawn spreading on the mountains,
a great and strong people;
there has never been the like,
neither will there be any more after them,
even to the years of many generations.
a day of clouds and thick darkness.
As the dawn spreading on the mountains,
a great and strong people;
there has never been the like,
neither will there be any more after them,
even to the years of many generations.
3A fire devours before them,
and behind them, a flame burns.
The land is as the garden of Eden before them,
and behind them, a desolate wilderness.
Yes, and no one has escaped them.
and behind them, a flame burns.
The land is as the garden of Eden before them,
and behind them, a desolate wilderness.
Yes, and no one has escaped them.
5Like the noise of chariots on the tops of the mountains, they leap,
like the noise of a flame of fire that devours the stubble,
like a strong people set in battle array.
like the noise of a flame of fire that devours the stubble,
like a strong people set in battle array.
7They run like mighty men.
They climb the wall like warriors.
They each march in his line, and they don’t swerve off course.
They climb the wall like warriors.
They each march in his line, and they don’t swerve off course.
8Neither does one jostle another;
they march everyone in his path,
and they burst through the defences,
and don’t break ranks.
they march everyone in his path,
and they burst through the defences,
and don’t break ranks.
9They rush on the city.
They run on the wall.
They climb up into the houses.
They enter in at the windows like thieves.
They run on the wall.
They climb up into the houses.
They enter in at the windows like thieves.
10The earth quakes before them.
The heavens tremble.
The sun and the moon are darkened,
and the stars withdraw their shining.
The heavens tremble.
The sun and the moon are darkened,
and the stars withdraw their shining.
11The LORD thunders his voice before his army;
for his forces are very great;
for he is strong who obeys his command;
for the day of the LORD is great and very awesome,
and who can endure it?
for his forces are very great;
for he is strong who obeys his command;
for the day of the LORD is great and very awesome,
and who can endure it?
12“Yet even now,” says the LORD, “turn to me with all your heart,
and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning.”
and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning.”
13Tear your heart, and not your garments,
and turn to the LORD, your God;
for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness,
and relents from sending calamity.
and turn to the LORD, your God;
for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness,
and relents from sending calamity.
14Who knows? He may turn and relent,
and leave a blessing behind him,
even a meal offering and a drink offering to the LORD, your God.
and leave a blessing behind him,
even a meal offering and a drink offering to the LORD, your God.
16Gather the people.
Sanctify the assembly.
Assemble the elders.
Gather the children, and those who nurse from breasts.
Let the bridegroom go out of his room,
and the bride out of her room.
Sanctify the assembly.
Assemble the elders.
Gather the children, and those who nurse from breasts.
Let the bridegroom go out of his room,
and the bride out of her room.
17Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar,
and let them say, “Spare your people, LORD,
and don’t give your heritage to reproach,
that the nations should rule over them.
Why should they say amongst the peoples,
‘Where is their God?’ ”
and let them say, “Spare your people, LORD,
and don’t give your heritage to reproach,
that the nations should rule over them.
Why should they say amongst the peoples,
‘Where is their God?’ ”
19The LORD answered his people,
“Behold, I will send you grain, new wine, and oil,
and you will be satisfied with them;
and I will no more make you a reproach amongst the nations.
“Behold, I will send you grain, new wine, and oil,
and you will be satisfied with them;
and I will no more make you a reproach amongst the nations.
20But I will remove the northern army far away from you,
and will drive it into a barren and desolate land,
its front into the eastern sea,
and its back into the western sea;
and its stench will come up,
and its bad smell will rise.”
Surely he has done great things.
and will drive it into a barren and desolate land,
its front into the eastern sea,
and its back into the western sea;
and its stench will come up,
and its bad smell will rise.”
Surely he has done great things.
22Don’t be afraid, you animals of the field;
for the pastures of the wilderness spring up,
for the tree bears its fruit.
The fig tree and the vine yield their strength.
for the pastures of the wilderness spring up,
for the tree bears its fruit.
The fig tree and the vine yield their strength.
23“Be glad then, you children of Zion,
and rejoice in the LORD, your God;
for he gives you the early rain in just measure,
and he causes the rain to come down for you,
the early rain and the latter rain,
as before.
and rejoice in the LORD, your God;
for he gives you the early rain in just measure,
and he causes the rain to come down for you,
the early rain and the latter rain,
as before.
25I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten,
the great locust, the grasshopper, and the caterpillar,
my great army, which I sent amongst you.
the great locust, the grasshopper, and the caterpillar,
my great army, which I sent amongst you.
26You will have plenty to eat, and be satisfied,
and will praise the name of the LORD, your God,
who has dealt wondrously with you;
and my people will never again be disappointed.
and will praise the name of the LORD, your God,
who has dealt wondrously with you;
and my people will never again be disappointed.
27You will know that I am amongst Israel,
and that I am the LORD, your God, and there is no one else;
and my people will never again be disappointed.
and that I am the LORD, your God, and there is no one else;
and my people will never again be disappointed.
28“It will happen afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh;
and your sons and your daughters will prophesy.
Your old men will dream dreams.
Your young men will see visions.
and your sons and your daughters will prophesy.
Your old men will dream dreams.
Your young men will see visions.
31The sun will be turned into darkness,
and the moon into blood,
before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes.
and the moon into blood,
before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes.
32It will happen that whoever will call on the LORD’s name shall be saved;
for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be those who escape,
as the LORD has said,
and amongst the remnant, those whom the LORD calls.
for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be those who escape,
as the LORD has said,
and amongst the remnant, those whom the LORD calls.