Joel 2:12-17
Christian Standard Bible
God’s Call for Repentance
12 Even now—
this is the Lord’s declaration—
turn to me with all your heart,(A)
with fasting, weeping, and mourning.(B)
13 Tear your hearts,(C)
not just your clothes,(D)
and return to the Lord your God.
For he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger, abounding in faithful love,
and he relents from sending disaster.(E)
14 Who knows? He may turn and relent(F)
and leave a blessing behind him,(G)
so you can offer a grain offering and a drink offering
to the Lord your God.(H)
15 Blow the ram’s horn in Zion!(I)
Announce a sacred fast;(J)
proclaim a solemn assembly.
16 Gather the people;
sanctify the congregation;(K)
assemble the aged;[a](L)
gather the infants,
even babies nursing at the breast.
Let the groom leave his bedroom,(M)
and the bride her honeymoon chamber.
17 Let the priests,(N) the Lord’s ministers,
weep between the portico and the altar.(O)
Let them say,
“Have pity on your people, Lord,(P)
and do not make your inheritance a disgrace,(Q)
an object of scorn among the nations.
Why should it be said among the peoples,
‘Where is their God?’” (R)
Footnotes
- 2:16 Or elders
Joel 2:12-17
Lexham English Bible
A Call to Repentance
12 “And even now,” declares[a] Yahweh,
“return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, and weeping, and wailing.”
13 Rend your hearts[b] and not your garments,
and return to Yahweh your God,
because he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger[c] and great in loyal love,
and relenting from harm.
14 Who knows whether he will turn and relent,
and leave a blessing behind him,
an offering and a libation,
for Yahweh your God?
15 Blow the trumpet[d] in Zion,
sanctify a fast, call an assembly;
16 gather the people, consecrate the assembly;
assemble the elders, gather the children,
even those who are breast-feeding;
let the bridegroom come out from his private room,
and the bride from her canopy.
17 Between the colonnade and the altar,
let the priests, the ministers of Yahweh, weep.
And let them say, “Take pity, Yahweh, on your people.
Do not make your inheritance a reproach,
a byword among the nations.
Why should they say among the nations,
‘Where is their God?’”
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