Joel 2:12-14
New English Translation
An Appeal for Repentance
12 “Yet even now,” the Lord says,
“return to me with all your heart—
with fasting, weeping, and mourning.
13 Tear your hearts,[a]
not just your garments.”
Return to the Lord your God,
for he is merciful and compassionate,
slow to anger and boundless in loyal love[b]—often relenting from calamitous punishment.[c]
14 Who knows?
Perhaps he will be compassionate and grant a reprieve,[d]
and leave blessing in his wake[e]—
a meal offering and a drink offering for you to offer to the Lord your God![f]
Footnotes
- Joel 2:13 sn The figurative language calls for genuine repentance and not merely external ritual that goes through the motions.
- Joel 2:13 tn Heb “and great of loyal love.”
- Joel 2:13 tn Heb “and he relents from calamity.”
- Joel 2:14 tn Heb “turn” or “turn back.”
- Joel 2:14 tn Heb “leave a blessing behind him.”
- Joel 2:14 tn The phrase “for you to offer” does not appear in the Hebrew but is supplied in the translation for the sake of clarity.
Joel 2:12-14
New King James Version
A Call to Repentance
12 “Now, therefore,” says the Lord,
(A)“Turn to Me with all your heart,
With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.”
13 So (B)rend your heart, and not (C)your garments;
Return to the Lord your God,
For He is (D)gracious and merciful,
Slow to anger, and of great kindness;
And He relents from doing harm.
14 (E)Who knows if He will turn and relent,
And leave (F)a blessing behind Him—
(G)A grain offering and a drink offering
For the Lord your God?
Joel 2:12-14
King James Version
12 Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the Lord your God?
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
