Add parallel Print Page Options

The Coming Day of Judgment

Blow the trumpet in Jerusalem.
    Shout a warning on my holy mountain.
Let all the people who live in the land shake with fear.
    The Lord’s day of judging is coming.
    The Lord’s day of judging is near.
It will be a dark, gloomy day.
    It will be a cloudy and black day.
Like the light at sunrise,
    the great and powerful army will spread over the mountains.
There has never been anything like it before.
    And there will never be anything like it again.

Read full chapter

An Army of Locusts

Blow the trumpet(A) in Zion;(B)
    sound the alarm on my holy hill.(C)

Let all who live in the land tremble,
    for the day of the Lord(D) is coming.
It is close at hand(E)
    a day of darkness(F) and gloom,(G)
    a day of clouds(H) and blackness.(I)
Like dawn spreading across the mountains
    a large and mighty army(J) comes,
such as never was in ancient times(K)
    nor ever will be in ages to come.

Read full chapter

Change Your Hearts

12 The Lord says, “Now, come back to me with all your heart.
    Go without food, and cry and be sad.”

13 Tearing your clothes is not enough to show you are sad.
    Let your heart be broken.
Come back to the Lord your God.
    He is kind and shows mercy.
He doesn’t become angry quickly.
    He has great love.
    He would rather forgive than punish.
14 Who knows? Maybe the Lord will change his mind
    and leave behind a blessing for you.
Then you may give grain and drink offerings
    to the Lord your God.

15 Blow the trumpet in Jerusalem.
    Call for a special time of going without food.
    Call for a special meeting.
16 Bring the people together.
    Make the meeting holy for the Lord.
Bring together the elders.
    Bring together the children,
    even babies that still feed at their mothers’ breasts.
The bridegroom should come from his room.
    The bride should come from her bedroom.
17 The priests, the Lord’s servants, should cry.
    They should cry between the altar and entrance to the Temple.
They should say, “Lord, have mercy on your people.
    Don’t let them be put to shame.
    Don’t let other nations make fun of them.
Don’t let people in other nations ask,
    ‘Where is their God?’”

Read full chapter

Rend Your Heart

12 “Even now,” declares the Lord,
    “return(A) to me with all your heart,(B)
    with fasting and weeping and mourning.”

13 Rend your heart(C)
    and not your garments.(D)
Return(E) to the Lord your God,
    for he is gracious and compassionate,(F)
slow to anger and abounding in love,(G)
    and he relents from sending calamity.(H)
14 Who knows? He may turn(I) and relent(J)
    and leave behind a blessing(K)
grain offerings and drink offerings(L)
    for the Lord your God.

15 Blow the trumpet(M) in Zion,(N)
    declare a holy fast,(O)
    call a sacred assembly.(P)
16 Gather the people,
    consecrate(Q) the assembly;
bring together the elders,(R)
    gather the children,
    those nursing at the breast.
Let the bridegroom(S) leave his room
    and the bride her chamber.
17 Let the priests, who minister(T) before the Lord,
    weep(U) between the portico and the altar.(V)
Let them say, “Spare your people, Lord.
    Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn,(W)
    a byword(X) among the nations.
Why should they say among the peoples,
    ‘Where is their God?(Y)’”

Read full chapter