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
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?”’”
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Copyright © 1995-2014 by ISV Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. Used by permission of Davidson Press, LLC.
