Joel 2

2a day of darkness and gloom—a day of clouds and thick darkness. Like dawn, there shall be poured out on the mountains a people numerous and powerful; the like of them hath never been, nor shall be any more to the years of all generations.

3Before them is a kindling fire, and all behind them a glowing flame. Before them the land is like a pleasure garden, and behind them, a scene of desolation: and there is none who can escape them.

4Their appearance is like the appearance of horses; and like horsemen they can pursue.

5With a noise like that of chariots they will bound over the tops of mountains and their noise is like that of a flaming fire consuming stubble.
They are like a people numerous and powerful, arrayed for battle.

6At their presence peoples will be appalled and every face covered with blackness.

7They can run like warriors and like mighty warriors scale walls; and each one will march in his own path. They will not alter their lines of march,

8nor will any one separate from his comrade. They will march loaded with their arms, and though they fall on their weapons they shall not be killed.

9They will surprise the city and run upon the walls; they will climb up the houses and enter at windows like thieves.

10At their presence the earth will be confounded and the heaven shaken, and the sun and the moon will be darkened, and the stars will withdraw their light,

11and the Lord will utter His voice before His army. Because the circuit of His camp is very large—because the operation of His words is irresistible—because the day of the Lord is great, extremely awful; who therefore shall be able to abide it?

12Now therefore saith the Lord your God, turn to Me with your whole heart, and with fasting and with weeping and with mourning.

16Assemble the people; sanctify the congregation; choose elders. Bring together infants at the breast. Let the bridegroom come forth from his chamber and the bride from her wardrobe.

17At the foot of the altar, let the priests who minister to the Lord, weep, and say, Spare, O Lord, Thy people; and give not up Thy heritage to reproach—for the nations to rule over them. That they may not say among the nations. Where is their God?

19And the Lord answered and said to His people, Behold I will send you corn and wine and oil, and with them you shall be plentifully supplied. And I will no more make you a reproach among the nations.

20This army from the north I will remove from you, and drive it to a land without water, and destroy its front in the first, and its rear in the last sea; and its smell shall come up and its stench shall ascend, because it hath magnified its [own] works.

22Take courage, O beasts of the field; for the plains of the wilderness are in bloom. Because the trees have yielded their fruit—the fig tree and the vine have put forth their strength;

23rejoice therefore, ye children of Sion and exult in the Lord your God: for He hath given you this food for righteousness, and He will distil upon you the former and the latter rain as heretofore.

24And your threshing floors shall be filled with corn, and your vats shall overflow with wine and oil.

26And you shall eat plentifully and be satisfied, and shall praise the name of the Lord your God, who hath dealt wonderfully with you; and My people shall never be put to shame.

27And you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I the Lord am your God and besides Me there is no other; and My people shall never be put to shame.

29And on My servants and on My handmaids in those days I will pour out a portion of My spirit.

30And I will exhibit wonders in heaven and on the earth, blood and fire and smoky vapour.

31The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and illustrious day of the Lord.

32But whoever will call on the name of the Lord shall be saved; for on mount Sion and in Jerusalem shall be the Saviour, as the Lord hath said, and the publishers of glad tidings, whom the Lord hath called.