Joel 2:12-17

Lexham English Bible

¹² “And even now,” declares^[a] Yahweh,
    “return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, and weeping, and wailing.”
¹³     Rend your hearts^[b] and not your garments,
and return to Yahweh your God,
    because he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger^[c] and great in loyal love,
    and relenting from harm.
¹⁴ Who knows whether he will turn and relent,
    and leave a blessing behind him,
an offering and a libation,
    for Yahweh your God?
¹⁵ Blow the trumpet^[d] in Zion,
    sanctify a fast, call an assembly;
¹⁶ gather the people, consecrate the assembly;
    assemble the elders, gather the children,
        even those who are breast-feeding;
let the bridegroom come out from his private room,
    and the bride from her canopy.
¹⁷ Between the colonnade and the altar,
    let the priests, the ministers of Yahweh, weep.
And let them say, “Take pity, Yahweh, on your people.
    Do not make your inheritance a reproach,
        a byword among the nations.
Why should they say among the nations,
    ‘Where is their God?’”