Berean Standard Bible

Joel 2:7-25

7They charge like mighty men; they scale the walls like men of war. Each one marches in formation, not swerving from the course.8They do not jostle one another; each proceeds in his path. They burst through the defenses, never breaking ranks.9They storm the city; they run along the wall; they climb into houses, entering through windows like thieves.

10Before them the earth quakes;the heavens tremble.The sun and moon grow dark,and the stars lose their brightness.11The LORD raises His voicein the presence of His army.Indeed, His camp is very large,for mighty are those who obey His command.For the Day of the LORD is great and very dreadful.Who can endure it?

12“Yet even now,”declares the LORD,“return to Me with all your heart,with fasting, weeping, and mourning.”

13So rend your hearts and not your garments,and return to the LORD your God.For He is gracious and compassionate,slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion.1And He relents from sending disaster.14Who knows? He may turn and relentand leave a blessing behind Him—grain and drink offeringsfor the LORD your God.

15Blow the ram’s horn in Zion,consecrate a fast,proclaim a sacred assembly.16Gather the people, sanctify the congregation,assemble the aged, gather the children,even those nursing at the breast.Let the bridegroom leave his room,and the bride her chamber.17Let the priests who minister before the LORDweep between the portico and the altar,saying, “Spare Your people, O LORD,and do not make Your heritage a reproach,an object of scorn among the nations.Why should they say among the peoples,‘Where is their God?’”

18Then the LORD became jealous for His land,and He spared His people.

19And the LORD answered His people:

“Behold, I will send yougrain, new wine, and oil,and by them you will be satisfied.I will never again make youa reproach among the nations.

20The northern army I will drive away from you,banishing it to a barren and desolate land,its front ranks into the Eastern Sea,2and its rear guard into the Western Sea.3And its stench will rise;its foul odor will ascend.

For He has done great things.

21Do not be afraid, O land;rejoice and be glad,for the LORD has done great things.22Do not be afraid, O beasts of the field,for the open pastures have turned green,the trees bear their fruit,and the fig tree and vine yield their best.423Be glad, O children of Zion,and rejoice in the LORD your God,for He has given you the autumn rainsfor your vindication.He sends you showers,both autumn and spring rains, as before.24The threshing floors will be full of grain,and the vats will overflow with new wine and oil.

25I will repay you for the years eaten by locusts—the swarming locust, the young locust,the destroying locust, and the devouring locust5—My great army that I sent against you.

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Notes

1. Joel 2:13 Forms of the Hebrew chesed are translated here and in most cases throughout the Scriptures as loving devotion; the range of meaning includes love, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, and mercy, as well as loyalty to a covenant. ↩
2. Joel 2:20 That is, the Dead Sea ↩
3. Joel 2:20 That is, the Mediterranean Sea, also called the Great Sea ↩
4. Joel 2:22 Literally their strength ↩
5. Joel 2:25 The precise identification of the four kinds of insects mentioned here is uncertain. ↩

Notes

Commentaries on Joel 2