Joel 2:7-25

7They attack as warriors attack; they scale walls as men of war do. Each goes on his own path, and they do not change their course.

8They do not push each other; each proceeds on his own path. They dodge the arrows, never stopping.

9They storm the city; they run on the wall; they climb into the houses; they enter through the windows like thieves.

10The earth quakes before them; the sky shakes. The sun and moon grow dark, and the stars cease their shining.

11The Lord makes his voice heard in the presence of his army. His camp is very large; those who carry out his command are powerful. Indeed, the day of the Lord is terrible and dreadful  — who can endure it?

12Even now — this is the Lord’s declaration — turn to me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.

13Tear your hearts, not just your clothes, and return to the Lord your God. For he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in faithful love, and he relents from sending disaster.

14Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave a blessing behind him, so you can offer a grain offering and a drink offering to the Lord your God.

15Blow the ram’s horn in Zion! Announce a sacred fast; proclaim a solemn assembly.

16Gather the people; sanctify the congregation; assemble the aged; gather the infants, even babies nursing at the breast. Let the groom leave his bedroom, and the bride her honeymoon chamber.

17Let the priests, the Lord’s ministers, weep between the portico and the altar. Let them say, “Have pity on your people, Lord, and do not make your inheritance a disgrace, an object of scorn among the nations. Why should it be said among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’”

18Then the Lord became jealous for his land and spared his people.

19The Lord answered his people: Look, I am about to send you grain, new wine, and fresh oil. You will be satiated with them, and I will no longer make you a disgrace among the nations.

20I will drive the northerner far from you and banish him to a dry and desolate land, his front ranks into the Dead Sea, and his rear guard into the Mediterranean Sea. His stench will rise; yes, his rotten smell will rise, for he has done astonishing things.

21Don’t be afraid, land; rejoice and be glad, for the Lord has done astonishing things.

22Don’t be afraid, wild animals, for the wilderness pastures have turned green, the trees bear their fruit, and the fig tree and grapevine yield their riches.

23Children of Zion, rejoice and be glad in the Lord your God, because he gives you the autumn rain for your vindication. He sends showers for you, both autumn and spring rain as before.

24The threshing floors will be full of grain, and the vats will overflow with new wine and fresh oil.

25I will repay you for the years that the swarming locust ate, the young locust, the destroying locust, and the devouring locust — my great army that I sent against you.