Return to the Lord

12 “Yet even now,” declares the Lord,
    (A)“return to me with all your heart,
(B)with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
13     and (C)rend your hearts and not (D)your garments.”
Return to the Lord your God,
    (E)for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;
    (F)and he relents over disaster.
14 (G)Who knows whether he will not turn and relent,
    and (H)leave a blessing behind him,
(I)a grain offering and a drink offering
    for the Lord your God?

15 (J)Blow the trumpet in Zion;
    (K)consecrate a fast;
call a solemn assembly;
16     gather the people.
(L)Consecrate the congregation;
    assemble the elders;
(M)gather the children,
    even nursing infants.
(N)Let the bridegroom leave his room,
    and the bride her chamber.

17 (O)Between the (P)vestibule and the (Q)altar
    (R)let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep
and say, “Spare your people, O Lord,
    and make not your heritage a reproach,
    a byword among the nations.[a]
(S)Why should they say among the peoples,
    ‘Where is their God?’”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Joel 2:17 Or reproach, that the nations should rule over them

Bible Gateway Recommends

ESV Super Giant-Print Bible--genuine leather, black
ESV Super Giant-Print Bible--genuine leather, black
Retail: $99.99
Our Price: $54.32
Save: $45.67 (46%)
5.0 of 5.0 stars
ESV Economy Bible, Large Print Softcover
ESV Economy Bible, Large Print Softcover
Retail: $7.99
Our Price: $4.49
Save: $3.50 (44%)
4.0 of 5.0 stars
ESV Church Bible (Value Pew Bible) Black
ESV Church Bible (Value Pew Bible) Black
Retail: $12.99
Our Price: $4.99
Save: $8.00 (62%)
5.0 of 5.0 stars
ESV Thinline Bible--buffalo leather, brown
ESV Thinline Bible--buffalo leather, brown
Retail: $79.99
Our Price: $38.86
Save: $41.13 (51%)
5.0 of 5.0 stars