Joel 2:1-11

Evangelical Heritage Version

2 Blow the ram’s horn in Zion.
Sound the alarm on my holy mountain.
    Let all who live in the land tremble with fear,
    for the Day of the Lord is coming.
    It is close at hand—
²         a day of darkness and gloom,
        a day of clouds and frightening darkness.

    Like dawn^[a] spreading across the mountains,
        a large and mighty people is coming.
    There has been nothing like it from ancient times,
    nor will there ever be again for generations to come.
³ In front of them, fire devours.
    Behind them, a flame blazes.
    In front of them, the land is like the Garden of Eden.
    Behind them, it is a desolate wilderness.
    There is no escaping them.
⁴ They look like horses.
    They charge like cavalry.
⁵ With a noise like chariots
        they bounce over the mountaintops,
        like a crackling fire consuming stubble,
        like a powerful army lined up for battle.
⁶ At the sight of them, peoples are in anguish.
    Every face becomes flushed.^[b]
7 They charge like strong warriors.
    They climb over walls like soldiers.
    They all march in formation.
    They do not turn aside from their path.
⁸ They do not collide with each other.
    Each marches straight ahead in his position.
    They pierce through defenses without hesitating.^[c]
9 They rush into the city.
    They run along the city wall.
    They climb into the houses.
    Like thieves they enter through the windows.
¹⁰ In front of them the earth quakes.
    The sky shudders.
    The sun and moon become dark,
    and the stars stop shining.

¹¹ The Lord shouts at the head of his army.
    His forces are very numerous,
    and those who obey his command are powerful.
    The Day of the Lord is great. It is terrifying.
    Who can endure it?