Joel 2 (TRV)

From Textus Receptus

• 1 Blow the trumpet in Zion all of you, and sound an alarm in My holy mountain. Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; because the day of the Lord is coming, because it is near at hand:
• 2 A day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, like the morning clouds spread upon the mountains; a great and a strong people, the like of whom has never been; nor will there ever be any like it after them, for the years of many generations.
• 3 A fire devours before them, and behind them a flame burns; the land is like the Garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yes, and nothing will escape them.
• 4 Their appearance is like the appearance of horses; and like horsemen, so will they run.
• 5 Like a noise of chariots over the tops of mountains they will leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devours the stubble, like a strong people set in battle array.
• 3 A fire devours before them, and behind them a flame burns; the land is like the Garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yes, and nothing will escape them.
• 4 Their appearance is like the appearance of horses; and like horsemen, so will they run.
• 5 Like a noise of chariots over their tops of mountains they will leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devours the stubble, like a strong people set in battle array.
• 6 Before their faces, the people will be in pain; all faces will gather blackness.
• 7 They will run like mighty men, they will climb the wall like men of war; and they will march every one on his way, and they do not break ranks.
• 8 Neither will one push upon another; they will walk every one in his path, and when they fall upon the sword, they will not be wounded.
• 9 They will run to and fro in the city, they will run on the wall; they will climb upon the houses, they will enter at the windows like a thief.
• 10 The earth will quake before them, the heavens will tremble; the sun and moon will become dark, and the stars will withdraw their brightness
• 11 The LORD will utter His voice before His army, because His camp is very great; because, strong is the One who executes His word. For the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; who can endure it?
• 12 “Also now, therefore,” says the LORD, “Turn yourselves to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.”
• 13 And rend your heart, and not your clothing; return to the LORD your God, because, He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and He repents from doing harm.
• 14 Who knows if He will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind Him, even a grain offering and a drink offering for the LORD your God?
• 15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly;
• 16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children and those who suck the breasts; let the bridegroom go out from his chamber, and the bride from her room.
• 17 Let the priests, who minister to the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar; let them say, “Spare Your people, O Lord, and do not give Your heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’ ”
• 18 Then the LORD will be jealous for His land, and pity His people.
• 19 Yes, the LORD will answer and say to His people, “Behold, I will send you grain, grape juice, and oil, and you will be satisfied by them; and I will no longer make you a reproach among the heathen.
• 20 “But I will remove far from you the northern army, and will drive him away into a barren and desolate land, with his face toward the east sea and his back toward the furthest sea; his stench will come up, and his foul odor will rise, because he has done terrible things.”