Joel 2:12-17

Easy-to-Read Version

¹² This is the Lord’s message:
    “Now come back to me with all your heart.
Cry and mourn, and don’t eat anything!
    Show that you are sad for doing wrong.
¹³ Tear your hearts,
    not your clothes.^[a]”
Come back to the Lord your God.
    He is kind and merciful.
He does not become angry quickly.
    He has great love.
Maybe he will change his mind
    about the bad punishment he planned.
¹⁴ Who knows, maybe he will change his mind
    and leave behind a blessing for you.
Then you can give grain and drink offerings
    to the Lord your God.

¹⁵ Blow the trumpet at Zion.
    Call for a special meeting.
    Call for a special time of fasting.
¹⁶ Bring the people together.
    Call for a special meeting.
Bring together the old men,
    the children, and the small babies still at their mothers’ breasts.
Let the bride and her new husband
    come from their bedroom.
¹⁷ Let the priests, the Lord’s servants,
    cry between the porch^[b] and the altar.
All of them should say this: “Lord, have mercy on your people.
    Don’t let your people be put to shame.
    Don’t let other people tell jokes about your people.
Don’t let the other nations laugh at us and say,
    ‘Where is their God?’”