Joel 2:12-17
English Standard Version
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?’”
Footnotes
- Joel 2:17 Or reproach, that the nations should rule over them
Joel 2:12-17
Holman 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, rich 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 grain and wine
to the Lord your God.(H)
15 Blow the horn in Zion!(I)
Announce a sacred fast;(J)
proclaim an assembly.
16 Gather the people;
sanctify the congregation;(K)
assemble the aged;[a](L)
gather the children,
even those 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
- Joel 2:16 Or elders
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.