Joel 1:15-2:11

New International Version

¹⁵ Alas for that^(A) day!
    For the day of the Lord^(B) is near;
    it will come like destruction from the Almighty.^[a](C)

¹⁶ Has not the food been cut off^(D)
    before our very eyes—
joy and gladness^(E)
    from the house of our God?^(F)
17 The seeds are shriveled
    beneath the clods.^[b](G)
The storehouses are in ruins,
    the granaries have been broken down,
    for the grain has dried up.
¹⁸ How the cattle moan!
    The herds mill about
because they have no pasture;^(H)
    even the flocks of sheep are suffering.^(I)

¹⁹ To you, Lord, I call,^(J)
    for fire^(K) has devoured the pastures^(L) in the wilderness
    and flames have burned up all the trees of the field.
²⁰ Even the wild animals pant for you;^(M)
    the streams of water have dried up^(N)
    and fire has devoured the pastures^(O) in the wilderness.

Let all who live in the land tremble,
    for the day of the Lord^(S) is coming.
It is close at hand^(T)—
²     a day of darkness^(U) and gloom,^(V)
    a day of clouds^(W) and blackness.^(X)
Like dawn spreading across the mountains
    a large and mighty army^(Y) comes,
such as never was in ancient times^(Z)
    nor ever will be in ages to come.

³ Before them fire^(AA) devours,
    behind them a flame blazes.
Before them the land is like the garden of Eden,^(AB)
    behind them, a desert waste^(AC)—
    nothing escapes them.
⁴ They have the appearance of horses;^(AD)
    they gallop along like cavalry.
⁵ With a noise like that of chariots^(AE)
    they leap over the mountaintops,
like a crackling fire^(AF) consuming stubble,
    like a mighty army drawn up for battle.

⁶ At the sight of them, nations are in anguish;^(AG)
    every face turns pale.^(AH)
7 They charge like warriors;^(AI)
    they scale walls like soldiers.
They all march in line,^(AJ)
    not swerving^(AK) from their course.
⁸ They do not jostle each other;
    each marches straight ahead.
They plunge through defenses
    without breaking ranks.
⁹ They rush upon the city;
    they run along the wall.
They climb into the houses;^(AL)
    like thieves they enter through the windows.^(AM)

¹⁰ Before them the earth shakes,^(AN)
    the heavens tremble,^(AO)
the sun and moon are darkened,^(AP)
    and the stars no longer shine.^(AQ)
11 The Lord^(AR) thunders^(AS)
    at the head of his army;^(AT)
his forces are beyond number,
    and mighty is the army that obeys his command.
The day of the Lord is great;^(AU)
    it is dreadful.
    Who can endure it?^(AV)