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

a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and gross darkness, as the dawn spread upon the mountains;—a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after them, to the years of generations and generations.

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

The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so they run.

Like the noise of chariots, on the tops of the mountains, they leap; like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.

Before them the peoples are in anguish: all faces turn pale.

They run like mighty men; they climb the wall like men of war; and they march every one on his ways, and break not their ranks.

Neither doth one press upon another; they march every one in his path; and fall amid weapons, but are not wounded.

They spread themselves over the city; they run upon the wall; they climb up into the houses; they enter in by the windows like a thief.

10 The earth quaketh before them; the heavens tremble; the sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining.

11 And Jehovah uttereth his voice before his army; for his camp is very great; for strong is he that executeth his word: for the day of Jehovah is great and very terrible; and who can bear it?

12 Yet even now, saith Jehovah, turn 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 Jehovah your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great loving-kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

14 Who knoweth? He might return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him, an oblation and a drink-offering for Jehovah your God?

15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, hallow a fast, proclaim a solemn assembly;

16 gather the people, hallow the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts; let the bridegroom go forth from his chamber, and the bride from her closet.

17 Let the priests, the ministers of Jehovah, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare, O Jehovah, thy people, and give not thine inheritance to reproach, that they should be a byword of the nations. Wherefore should they say among the peoples, Where is their God?

18 Then Jehovah will be jealous for his land, and will have pity on his people.

19 And Jehovah will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I send you corn, and new wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith; and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations.

20 And I will remove far off from you him [that cometh] from the north, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, his face toward the eastern sea, and his rear toward the hinder sea; and his stench shall come up, and his ill odour shall come up, for he hath exalted himself to do great things.

21 —Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for Jehovah doeth great things.

22 Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring; for the tree beareth its fruit; the fig-tree and the vine yield full increase.

23 And ye, children of Zion, be glad and rejoice in Jehovah your God; for he giveth you the early rain in due measure, and he causeth to come down for you the rain, the early rain, and the latter rain at the beginning [of the season].

24 And the floors shall be full of corn, and the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil.

25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmer-worm, my great army which I sent among you.

26 And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of Jehovah your God, who hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.

27 And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I, Jehovah, [am] your God, and there is none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.

28 And it shall come to pass afterwards [that] I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.

29 Yea, even upon the bondmen and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my Spirit.

30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.

31 The sun shall be changed to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and terrible day of Jehovah come.

32 And it shall be that whosoever shall call upon the name of Jehovah shall be saved: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as Jehovah hath said, and for the residue whom Jehovah shall call.

The Day of the Lord

Blow (A)the [a]trumpet in Zion,
And (B)sound an alarm in My holy mountain!
Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble;
For (C)the day of the Lord is coming,
For it is at hand:
(D)A day of darkness and gloominess,
A day of clouds and thick darkness,
Like the morning clouds spread over the mountains.
(E)A people come, great and strong,
(F)The like of whom has never been;
Nor will there ever be any such after them,
Even for many successive generations.

A fire devours before them,
And behind them a flame burns;
The land is like (G)the Garden of Eden before them,
(H)And behind them a desolate wilderness;
Surely nothing shall escape them.
(I)Their appearance is like the appearance of horses;
And like [b]swift steeds, so they run.
(J)With a noise like chariots
Over mountaintops they leap,
Like the noise of a flaming fire that devours the stubble,
Like a strong people set in battle array.

Before them the people writhe in pain;
(K)All faces [c]are drained of color.
They run like mighty men,
They climb the wall like men of war;
Every one marches in formation,
And they do not break (L)ranks.
They do not push one another;
Every one marches in his own [d]column.
Though they lunge between the weapons,
They are not [e]cut down.
They run to and fro in the city,
They run on the wall;
They climb into the houses,
They (M)enter at the windows (N)like a thief.

10 (O)The earth quakes before them,
The heavens tremble;
(P)The sun and moon grow dark,
And the stars diminish their brightness.
11 (Q)The Lord gives voice before His army,
For His camp is very great;
(R)For strong is the One who executes His word.
For the (S)day of the Lord is great and very terrible;
(T)Who can endure it?

A Call to Repentance

12 “Now, therefore,” says the Lord,
(U)“Turn to Me with all your heart,
With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.”
13 So (V)rend your heart, and not (W)your garments;
Return to the Lord your God,
For He is (X)gracious and merciful,
Slow to anger, and of great kindness;
And He relents from doing harm.
14 (Y)Who knows if He will turn and relent,
And leave (Z)a blessing behind Him—
(AA)A grain offering and a drink offering
For the Lord your God?

15 (AB)Blow the [f]trumpet in Zion,
(AC)Consecrate a fast,
Call a sacred assembly;
16 Gather the people,
(AD)Sanctify the congregation,
Assemble the elders,
Gather the children and nursing babes;
(AE)Let the bridegroom go out from his chamber,
And the bride from her dressing room.
17 Let the priests, who minister to the Lord,
Weep (AF)between the porch and the altar;
Let them say, (AG)“Spare Your people, O Lord,
And do not give Your heritage to reproach,
That the nations should [g]rule over them.
(AH)Why should they say among the peoples,
‘Where is their God?’ ”

The Land Refreshed(AI)

18 Then the Lord will (AJ)be zealous for His land,
And pity His people.
19 The Lord will answer and say to His people,
“Behold, I will send you (AK)grain and new wine and oil,
And you will be satisfied by them;
I will no longer make you a reproach among the nations.

20 “But (AL)I will remove far from you (AM)the northern army,
And will drive him away into a barren and desolate land,
With his face toward the eastern sea
And his back (AN)toward the western sea;
His stench will come up,
And his foul odor will rise,
Because he has done [h]monstrous things.”

21 Fear not, O land;
Be glad and rejoice,
For the Lord has done [i]marvelous things!
22 Do not be afraid, you beasts of the field;
For (AO)the open pastures are springing up,
And the tree bears its fruit;
The fig tree and the vine yield their strength.
23 Be glad then, you children of Zion,
And (AP)rejoice in the Lord your God;
For He has given you the [j]former rain faithfully,
And He (AQ)will cause the rain to come down for you—
The former rain,
And the latter rain in the first month.
24 The threshing floors shall be full of wheat,
And the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil.

25 “So I will restore to you the years (AR)that the swarming [k]locust has eaten,
The crawling locust,
The consuming locust,
And the chewing locust,
My great army which I sent among you.
26 You shall (AS)eat in plenty and be satisfied,
And praise the name of the Lord your God,
Who has dealt wondrously with you;
And My people shall never be put to (AT)shame.
27 Then you shall know that I am (AU)in the midst of Israel:
(AV)I am the Lord your God
And there is no other.
My people shall never be put to shame.

God’s Spirit Poured Out

28 “And(AW) it shall come to pass afterward
That (AX)I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
(AY)Your sons and your (AZ)daughters shall prophesy,
Your old men shall dream dreams,
Your young men shall see visions.
29 And also on My (BA)menservants and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days.

30 “And (BB)I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth:
Blood and fire and pillars of smoke.
31 (BC)The sun shall be turned into darkness,
And the moon into blood,
(BD)Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.
32 And it shall come to pass
That (BE)whoever calls on the name of the Lord
Shall be [l]saved.
For (BF)in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be [m]deliverance,
As the Lord has said,
Among (BG)the remnant whom the Lord calls.

Footnotes

  1. Joel 2:1 ram’s horn
  2. Joel 2:4 Or horsemen
  3. Joel 2:6 LXX, Tg., Vg. gather blackness
  4. Joel 2:8 Lit. highway
  5. Joel 2:8 Halted by losses
  6. Joel 2:15 ram’s horn
  7. Joel 2:17 Or speak a proverb against them
  8. Joel 2:20 Lit. great
  9. Joel 2:21 Lit. great
  10. Joel 2:23 Or teacher of righteousness
  11. Joel 2:25 Exact identity of these locusts unknown
  12. Joel 2:32 Or delivered
  13. Joel 2:32 Or salvation

El día terrible del Señor

Toquen trompeta en Sión(A),
Y suenen alarma en Mi santo monte.
Tiemblen todos los habitantes de la tierra,
Porque viene el día del Señor;
Ciertamente está cercano(B),
Día de tinieblas y densas sombras(C),
Día nublado y de densa oscuridad.
Como la aurora sobre los montes, se extiende
Un pueblo grande y poderoso(D);
Nunca ha habido nada semejante a él(E),
Ni tampoco lo habrá después
Por años de muchas generaciones.
Delante de él consume el fuego(F),
Y detrás de él abrasa la llama.
Como el huerto del Edén(G) es la tierra delante de él;
Y detrás de él, un desierto desolado(H),
Y de él nada escapa.
Como aspecto de caballos es su aspecto,
Y como corceles de guerra(I), así corren.
Como estrépito de carros(J)
Saltan sobre las cumbres de los montes,
Como el crepitar de llama de fuego que consume la hojarasca(K),
Como pueblo poderoso dispuesto para la batalla.
Ante él tiemblan(L) los pueblos,
Palidecen todos los rostros(M).
Como valientes corren,
Como soldados escalan la muralla;
Cada uno marcha por su camino(N),
Y no se desvían de sus sendas.
No se aprietan uno contra otro,
Cada cual marcha por su calzada;
Y cuando irrumpen por las defensas,
No rompen las filas.
Se lanzan sobre la ciudad,
Corren por la muralla,
Suben a las casas(O),
Entran por las ventanas como ladrones(P).
10 Ante ellos tiembla la tierra(Q),
Se estremecen los cielos,
El sol y la luna se oscurecen,
Y las estrellas pierden su resplandor(R).
11 El Señor da Su voz(S) delante de Su ejército(T),
Porque es inmenso Su campamento,
Porque poderoso es el que ejecuta Su palabra(U).
Grande y terrible es en verdad el día del Señor(V),
¿Y quién podrá soportarlo(W)?

Invitación al arrepentimiento

12 ¶«Aun ahora», declara el Señor,
«Vuelvan a Mí(X) de todo corazón(Y),
Con ayuno, llanto y lamento(Z).
13 -»Rasguen su corazón(AA) y no sus vestidos(AB)».
Vuelvan ahora al Señor su Dios,
Porque Él es compasivo y clemente(AC),
Lento para la ira, abundante en misericordia,
Y se arrepiente de infligir el mal(AD).
14 ¿Quién sabe si reconsidere y se apiade(AE),
Y deje tras sí bendición(AF),
Es decir, ofrenda de cereal y libación(AG)
Para el Señor su Dios?
15 Toquen trompeta en Sión(AH),
Promulguen ayuno, convoquen asamblea(AI).
16 Reúnan al pueblo, santifiquen la asamblea(AJ),
Congreguen a los ancianos,
Reúnan a los pequeños y a los niños de pecho.
Salga el novio de su aposento(AK)
Y la novia de su alcoba.
17 Entre el pórtico y el altar(AL),
Lloren los sacerdotes, ministros del Señor,
Y digan: «Perdona, oh Señor, a Tu pueblo(AM),
Y no entregues Tu heredad al oprobio,
A la burla entre las naciones(AN).
¿Por qué han de decir entre los pueblos:
“Dónde está su Dios(AO)?”».

Misericordia del Señor

18 ¶Entonces el Señor se llenará de celo por Su tierra(AP),
Y tendrá piedad de Su pueblo(AQ).
19 El Señor responderá a Su pueblo:
«Yo les enviaré grano, vino nuevo y aceite(AR),
Y se saciarán de ello(AS),
Y nunca más los entregaré al oprobio entre las naciones(AT).
20 -»Al ejército del norte(AU) lo alejaré de ustedes
Y lo echaré a una tierra árida y desolada,
Su vanguardia hacia el mar oriental,
Y su retaguardia hacia el mar occidental(AV).
Y ascenderá su hedor y subirá su fetidez(AW),
Porque ha hecho cosas terribles».
21 ¶No temas(AX), oh tierra, regocíjate y alégrate(AY),
Porque el Señor ha hecho grandes cosas(AZ).
22 No teman, bestias del campo,
Porque los pastos del desierto han reverdecido(BA),
Porque el árbol ha dado su fruto,
La higuera y la vid han producido en abundancia.
23 Hijos de Sión, regocíjense
Y alégrense en el Señor su Dios(BB);
Porque Él les ha dado la lluvia temprana[a] para su vindicación,
Y les ha hecho descender la lluvia,
La lluvia temprana y la tardía[b] como en el principio(BC).
24 Y las eras se llenarán de grano,
Y las tinajas rebosarán de vino nuevo y de aceite virgen(BD).
25 «Entonces los compensaré por los años
En que devoraban la langosta,
El pulgón, el saltón y la oruga,
Mi gran ejército, que envié contra ustedes(BE).
26 -»Tendrán mucho que comer y se saciarán(BF),
Y alabarán el nombre del Señor su Dios(BG),
Que ha obrado maravillosamente con ustedes(BH);
Y nunca jamás será avergonzado Mi pueblo(BI).
27 -»Y sabrán que en medio de Israel estoy Yo,
Y que Yo soy el Señor su Dios(BJ)
Y no hay otro(BK).
Nunca jamás será avergonzado Mi pueblo(BL).

Derramamiento del espíritu de Dios

28 ¶»[c]Y sucederá que después de esto,
Derramaré Mi Espíritu(BM) sobre toda carne(BN);
Y sus hijos y sus hijas profetizarán,
Sus ancianos soñarán sueños,
Sus jóvenes verán visiones(BO).
29 -»Y aun sobre los siervos y las siervas
Derramaré Mi Espíritu en esos días(BP).
30 -»Haré prodigios en el cielo y en la tierra(BQ):
Sangre, fuego y columnas de humo(BR).
31 -»El sol se convertirá en tinieblas,
Y la luna en sangre(BS),
Antes que venga el día del Señor, grande y terrible(BT).
32 -»Y todo aquel que invoque el nombre del Señor
Será salvo(BU);
Porque en el monte Sión(BV) y en Jerusalén
Habrá salvación(BW),
Como ha dicho el Señor,
Y entre los sobrevivientes estarán los que el Señor llame(BX).

Footnotes

  1. 2:23 I.e. de otoño.
  2. 2:23 I.e. de primavera.
  3. 2:28 En el texto heb. cap. 3:1.

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.
They have the appearance of horses;(O)
    they gallop along like cavalry.
With a noise like that of chariots(P)
    they leap over the mountaintops,
like a crackling fire(Q) consuming stubble,
    like a mighty army drawn up for battle.

At the sight of them, nations are in anguish;(R)
    every face turns pale.(S)
They charge like warriors;(T)
    they scale walls like soldiers.
They all march in line,(U)
    not swerving(V) 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;(W)
    like thieves they enter through the windows.(X)

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

Rend Your Heart

12 “Even now,” declares the Lord,
    “return(AH) to me with all your heart,(AI)
    with fasting and weeping and mourning.”

13 Rend your heart(AJ)
    and not your garments.(AK)
Return(AL) to the Lord your God,
    for he is gracious and compassionate,(AM)
slow to anger and abounding in love,(AN)
    and he relents from sending calamity.(AO)
14 Who knows? He may turn(AP) and relent(AQ)
    and leave behind a blessing(AR)
grain offerings and drink offerings(AS)
    for the Lord your God.

15 Blow the trumpet(AT) in Zion,(AU)
    declare a holy fast,(AV)
    call a sacred assembly.(AW)
16 Gather the people,
    consecrate(AX) the assembly;
bring together the elders,(AY)
    gather the children,
    those nursing at the breast.
Let the bridegroom(AZ) leave his room
    and the bride her chamber.
17 Let the priests, who minister(BA) before the Lord,
    weep(BB) between the portico and the altar.(BC)
Let them say, “Spare your people, Lord.
    Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn,(BD)
    a byword(BE) among the nations.
Why should they say among the peoples,
    ‘Where is their God?(BF)’”

The Lord’s Answer

18 Then the Lord was jealous(BG) for his land
    and took pity(BH) on his people.

19 The Lord replied[a] to them:

“I am sending you grain, new wine(BI) and olive oil,(BJ)
    enough to satisfy you fully;(BK)
never again will I make you
    an object of scorn(BL) to the nations.

20 “I will drive the northern horde(BM) far from you,
    pushing it into a parched and barren land;
its eastern ranks will drown in the Dead Sea
    and its western ranks in the Mediterranean Sea.
And its stench(BN) will go up;
    its smell will rise.”

Surely he has done great things!
21     Do not be afraid,(BO) land of Judah;
    be glad and rejoice.(BP)
Surely the Lord has done great things!(BQ)
22     Do not be afraid, you wild animals,
    for the pastures in the wilderness are becoming green.(BR)
The trees are bearing their fruit;
    the fig tree(BS) and the vine(BT) yield their riches.(BU)
23 Be glad, people of Zion,
    rejoice(BV) in the Lord your God,
for he has given you the autumn rains
    because he is faithful.(BW)
He sends you abundant showers,(BX)
    both autumn(BY) and spring rains,(BZ) as before.
24 The threshing floors will be filled with grain;
    the vats will overflow(CA) with new wine(CB) and oil.

25 “I will repay you for the years the locusts(CC) have eaten(CD)
    the great locust and the young locust,
    the other locusts and the locust swarm[b]
my great army(CE) that I sent among you.
26 You will have plenty to eat, until you are full,(CF)
    and you will praise(CG) the name of the Lord your God,
    who has worked wonders(CH) for you;
never again will my people be shamed.(CI)
27 Then you will know(CJ) that I am in Israel,
    that I am the Lord(CK) your God,
    and that there is no other;
never again will my people be shamed.(CL)

The Day of the Lord

28 “And afterward,
    I will pour out my Spirit(CM) on all people.(CN)
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,(CO)
    your old men will dream dreams,(CP)
    your young men will see visions.
29 Even on my servants,(CQ) both men and women,
    I will pour out my Spirit in those days.(CR)
30 I will show wonders in the heavens(CS)
    and on the earth,(CT)
    blood and fire and billows of smoke.
31 The sun will be turned to darkness(CU)
    and the moon to blood
    before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.(CV)
32 And everyone who calls
    on the name of the Lord(CW) will be saved;(CX)
for on Mount Zion(CY) and in Jerusalem
    there will be deliverance,(CZ)
    as the Lord has said,
even among the survivors(DA)
    whom the Lord calls.[c](DB)

Footnotes

  1. Joel 2:19 Or Lord will be jealous … / and take pity … / 19 The Lord will reply
  2. Joel 2:25 The precise meaning of the four Hebrew words used here for locusts is uncertain.
  3. Joel 2:32 In Hebrew texts 2:28-32 is numbered 3:1-5.