2 Blow the trumpet^[a] in Zion,
    and sound the alarm on my holy mountain!^[b]
Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble,
    for the day of Yahweh is coming
        —it is indeed near.
² A day of darkness and gloom,
    a day of cloud and thick darkness,
like the dawn spreads on the mountains,
    a great and strong army!
There has been nothing like it from old,
    and after it nothing will be again for generations to come.^[c]
3 Before them^[d] a fire devours,
    and behind them a flame burns.
Like the garden of Eden is the land before them,^[e]
    and after them it is like a desolate desert,
    and nothing can escape them.
⁴ Like the appearance of horses is their appearance,
    and like horsemen they run;
⁵ like the sound of chariots on the tops of the mountains, they leap about;
    like the sound of a flame of fire
        devouring stubble;
like a strong army arranged
    in rows for battle.
⁶ From before them^[f] nations writhe,
    all faces turn pale.^[g]
7 They run like mighty warriors,^[h]
    they scale the wall like men of war;
each goes on its own way,
    and they do not swerve from their paths.
⁸ They do not jostle one another;^[i]
    each goes on its own trail;
and through the falling weapons,^[j]
    they are not halted.
⁹ In the city they rush forth;
    on the walls^[k] they run.
Into the houses they climb up;
    through the windows
        they enter like a thief.
¹⁰ Before them^[l] the earth quakes;
    the heavens tremble;
the sun and the moon grow dark,
    and the stars have withheld^[m] their splendor
¹¹ And Yahweh utters^[n] his voice before his army,
    because his encampment is very large;
strong is the one who carries out his decree,
    for great is the day of Yahweh
and exceedingly fearful.
    Who can endure it?