A day of (A)darkness and gloom,
A day of clouds and thick darkness.
As dawn is spread over the mountains,
So there is a (B)great and mighty people;
There has (C)never been anything like it,
Nor will there be again after it
To the years of many generations.
A (D)fire consumes before them,
And behind them a flame devours.
The land is (E)like the Garden of Eden before them,
But a (F)desolate wilderness behind them,
And nothing at all escapes them.
Their (G)appearance is like the appearance of horses;
And like war horses, so they run.
[a]With a (H)noise as of chariots
They leap about on the tops of the mountains,
Like the [b]crackling of a (I)flame of fire consuming the stubble,
Like a mighty people drawn up for battle.
Before them the people are in (J)anguish;
All (K)faces [c]turn pale.
They run like warriors,
They climb the wall like soldiers;
And each of them (L)marches [d]in line,
Nor do they lose their way.
They do not crowd each other,
Every warrior of them marches in his path;
When they [e]burst through the [f]defenses,
They do not break ranks.
They storm the city,
They run on the wall;
They climb into the (M)houses,
They (N)enter through the windows like a thief.
10 Before them the earth (O)quakes,
The heavens tremble,
The (P)sun and the moon become dark,
And the stars lose their brightness.
11 The Lord (Q)utters His voice before (R)His army;
His camp is indeed very great,
For (S)mighty is one who carries out His word.
The (T)day of the Lord is indeed great and very awesome,
And (U)who can endure it?

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Joel 2:5 Lit Like the noise of chariots
  2. Joel 2:5 Lit sound
  3. Joel 2:6 Or become flushed
  4. Joel 2:7 Lit in his ways
  5. Joel 2:8 Lit fall
  6. Joel 2:8 Lit weapon, prob. javelin

    a day of darkness(A) and gloom,(B)
    a day of clouds(C) and blackness.(D)
Like dawn spreading across the mountains
    a large and mighty army(E) comes,
such as never was in ancient times(F)
    nor ever will be in ages to come.

Before them fire(G) devours,
    behind them a flame blazes.
Before them the land is like the garden of Eden,(H)
    behind them, a desert waste(I)
    nothing escapes them.
They have the appearance of horses;(J)
    they gallop along like cavalry.
With a noise like that of chariots(K)
    they leap over the mountaintops,
like a crackling fire(L) consuming stubble,
    like a mighty army drawn up for battle.

At the sight of them, nations are in anguish;(M)
    every face turns pale.(N)
They charge like warriors;(O)
    they scale walls like soldiers.
They all march in line,(P)
    not swerving(Q) from their course.
They do not jostle each other;
    each marches straight ahead.
They plunge through defenses
    without breaking ranks.
They rush upon the city;
    they run along the wall.
They climb into the houses;(R)
    like thieves they enter through the windows.(S)

10 Before them the earth shakes,(T)
    the heavens tremble,(U)
the sun and moon are darkened,(V)
    and the stars no longer shine.(W)
11 The Lord(X) thunders(Y)
    at the head of his army;(Z)
his forces are beyond number,
    and mighty is the army that obeys his command.
The day of the Lord is great;(AA)
    it is dreadful.
    Who can endure it?(AB)

Read full chapter