Joel 2:12-17
New American Standard Bible
12 “Yet even now,” declares the Lord,
“(A)Return to Me with all your heart,
And with (B)fasting, weeping, and mourning;
13 And (C)tear your heart and not merely (D)your garments.”
Now return to the Lord your God,
For He is (E)gracious and compassionate,
Slow to anger, abounding in mercy
And (F)relenting of catastrophe.
14 Who knows, (G)He might turn and relent,
And leave a (H)blessing behind Him,
Resulting in (I)a grain offering and a drink offering
For the Lord your God.
15 (J)Blow a trumpet in Zion,
(K)Consecrate a fast, proclaim a solemn assembly,
16 Gather the people, (L)sanctify the congregation,
Assemble the elders,
Gather the children and the nursing infants.
Have the (M)groom come out of his room
And the bride out of her bridal chamber.
17 Let the priests, the Lord’s ministers,
Weep (N)between the porch and the altar,
And let them say, “[a](O)Spare Your people, Lord,
And do not make Your inheritance a (P)disgrace,
With the nations jeering at them.
Why should those among the peoples say,
‘(Q)Where is their God?’”
Footnotes
- Joel 2:17 Or Look compassionately on
Joel 2:12-17
International Standard Version
Repentance and Restoration
12 “Yet even now,” declares the Lord,
“Turn back to me with your whole heart,
with fasting, tears, and mourning.
13 Tear your hearts, not your garments;[a]
and turn back to the Lord your God.
For he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to become angry,
overflowing in gracious love,
and grieves about this evil.
14 Who knows? He will turn back and relent, will he not,
leaving behind a blessing,
even a grain offering and drink offering for the Lord your God?”
A Public Call to a Solemn Assembly
15 “Sound the ram’s horn in Zion!
Dedicate a fast and call for a solemn assembly!
16 Gather the people!
Dedicate the congregation!
Bring in the elders.
Gather the youngsters
and even the nursing infants.
Call the bridegroom from his wedding preparations,[b]
and the bride from her dressing room.
17 As they serve[c] between the porch and the altar,
let the priests and ministers of the Lord weep and pray:
‘Spare your people, Lord,
and do not make your heritage a disgrace
so that nations ridicule them.
Why should they say among the people,
“Where is their God?”’”
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 1995-2014 by ISV Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. Used by permission of Davidson Press, LLC.
