Joel 2

Blow 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 the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;

Sound the trumpet in Zion, ring the alarm on my sacred hill. Let everyone tremble in fear, for the day of the Lord is almost here.

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

A day filled with shadows and despair, a day cloaked in clouds and deep darkness, like dawn spreading over the mountains. A mighty and powerful people emerge; their like has never been seen before, and will not be seen again for countless generations.

A 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 nothing shall escape them.

They advance, consuming all in their path with a fierce fire; they leave behind only the burning embers. Before them, the land is lush and beautiful like Eden, but in their wake, they leave only barren wasteland. Nothing can escape their destructive force.

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

They look like majestic horses, and they will charge forward with the speed and strength of skilled riders.

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

They'll surge forward like thundering chariots over hills, fierce as a wildfire consuming dry grass, as formidable as an army ready for war.

Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness.

People will be overwhelmed with distress, their faces darkened by despair.

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

They will surge forward with strength, scaling walls like warriors. Each will stay true to their path, unyielding in unity and discipline.

Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.

They don't jostle one another; each one marches straight ahead in his own path. They plunge through the weapons and are not wounded.

They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.

They'll dash through the city, scaling walls and rooftops, sneaking in through windows like a stealthy thief.

The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:

Before their presence, the earth will shudder in fear; the skies will shiver in awe. The sun and moon will hide their light, and the stars will dim their glow.

And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?

The Lord will call out to his vast and powerful army. His strength is shown in his actions and his words. The day of the Lord is both magnificent and fearsome, who could possibly withstand it?

Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:

So now, says the Lord, come back to me wholeheartedly. Show your sincerity through fasting, tears, and grief.

And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

Tear your heart, not your clothes, and return to God. He is full of grace and mercy, patient and kind, always ready to relent and turn away from punishment.

Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?

Who can say? He may turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind: grain and drink offerings for the Lord, your God.

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

Sound the trumpet in Zion, set apart a time of fasting, gather for a sacred assembly.

Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.

Call everyone together, purify the community, bring the old and young, even the infants. Let the groom step out of his room, and the bride leave her private space.

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

May the spiritual leaders, God's servants, shed tears in the sacred space, pleading, "God, protect your people. Don't let your legacy be tarnished or controlled by outsiders. Why should others question, 'Where is their God?'"

Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people.

Then, the LORD will passionately protect His land and feel deep compassion for His people.

Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen:

Indeed, God will respond to His people, promising, "I will provide you with food, drink, and prosperity, and you will be content. I will ensure you are no longer scorned by others."

But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things.

I will banish the northern army far from you, sending them to a desolate, barren land. They will face the eastern sea, their backs to the farthest sea. Their foul stench and bad odor will rise, a consequence of their terrible deeds.

Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things.

Don't be scared, dear Earth; instead, be joyful and celebrate. For God is about to perform miracles.

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

Don't fear, creatures of the wild: the wilderness is blooming, trees are bearing fruit, fig trees and vines are full of life.

Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.

Children of Zion, celebrate and find joy in your God. He has blessed you with gentle early rains and promises to shower you with both early and late rains when the first month comes.

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

The fields will brim with golden wheat, and barrels will overflow with abundant wine and oil.

And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.

I will make up for the years that the locusts ate, the cankerworm, the caterpillar and the palmerworm: my great army that I sent against you.

And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.

You will feast abundantly, feel content, and express gratitude for the miracles God has done for you. My people will forever stand proud and unashamed.

And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.

You will realize that I am right there with Israel, that I am your one and only God. My people will forever stand tall, free from shame.

And 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:

In time, I will pour out my spirit on everyone; your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions.

And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.

In those days, I will fill both the servants and handmaidens with my divine spirit.

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

I will reveal awe-inspiring miracles in the sky and on earth, with vivid displays of blood, fire, and towering plumes of smoke.

The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD come.

Before the Lord's mighty and fearsome day arrives, the sun will lose its light and the moon will bleed.

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

Anyone who cries out to God will find salvation. For in the sacred places of Mount Zion and Jerusalem, freedom awaits, as God has promised. And those chosen by God will also be saved.