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A Call to Repentance

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?’”

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Footnotes

  1. Joel 2:12 Literally “a declaration of”
  2. Joel 2:13 Hebrew “heart”
  3. Joel 2:13 Or “patient”; literally “long of anger”
  4. Joel 2:15 Hebrew “Shofar”

Rend Your Heart

12 “Even now,” declares the Lord,
    “return(A) to me with all your heart,(B)
    with fasting and weeping and mourning.”

13 Rend your heart(C)
    and not your garments.(D)
Return(E) to the Lord your God,
    for he is gracious and compassionate,(F)
slow to anger and abounding in love,(G)
    and he relents from sending calamity.(H)
14 Who knows? He may turn(I) and relent(J)
    and leave behind a blessing(K)
grain offerings and drink offerings(L)
    for the Lord your God.

15 Blow the trumpet(M) in Zion,(N)
    declare a holy fast,(O)
    call a sacred assembly.(P)
16 Gather the people,
    consecrate(Q) the assembly;
bring together the elders,(R)
    gather the children,
    those nursing at the breast.
Let the bridegroom(S) leave his room
    and the bride her chamber.
17 Let the priests, who minister(T) before the Lord,
    weep(U) between the portico and the altar.(V)
Let them say, “Spare your people, Lord.
    Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn,(W)
    a byword(X) among the nations.
Why should they say among the peoples,
    ‘Where is their God?(Y)’”

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