Add parallel Print Page Options

Chapter 2

The Day of the Lord Is Coming[a]

Blow the trumpet in Zion;
    sound the alarm on my holy mountain.
Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble,
    for the day of the Lord is coming.
A day of darkness and gloom is near,
    a day of clouds and blackness.
Like the dawn spreading over the mountains,
    a vast and powerful army approaches.
Their like has never been seen,
    nor will it ever be seen again
    in the ages to come.
Their vanguard is a devouring fire,
    while behind them is a consuming flame.
Ahead of them the land is like the Garden of Eden,
    but behind them lies a desert waste,
    and from that army there is no escape.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Joel 2:1 The day of the Lord refers to the judgment. The text is from those who express fear before the greatness of the God who comes. The cloud of insects that is advancing like an invading army in battle array destroys everything in its path, and nothing can stop it. It announces the judgment of God.

Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand;

A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.

A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.

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.

Before them fire(L) devours,
    behind them a flame blazes.
Before them the land is like the garden of Eden,(M)
    behind them, a desert waste(N)
    nothing escapes them.

Read full chapter