Joel 2:1-17

11Blow a trumpet in Zion, And sound an alarm on My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, For the 2day of the Lord is coming; Surely it is near,2A day of 3darkness and gloom, A day of clouds and thick darkness. As the dawn is spread over the mountains, So there is a 4great and mighty people; There has 5never been anything like it, Nor will there be again after it To the years of many generations.3A 6fire consumes before them And behind them a flame burns. The land is 7like the garden of Eden before them But a 8desolate wilderness behind them, And nothing at all escapes them.4Their 9appearance is like the appearance of horses; And like war horses, so they run.510With a 11noise as of chariots They leap on the tops of the mountains, Like the 12crackling of a 13flame of fire consuming the stubble, Like a mighty people arranged for battle.6Before them the people are in 14anguish; All 15faces 16turn pale.7They run like mighty men, They climb the wall like soldiers; And they each 17march 18in line, Nor do they deviate from their paths.8They do not crowd each other, They march everyone in his path; When they 19burst through the 20defenses, They do not break ranks.9They rush on the city, They run on the wall; They climb into the 21houses, They 22enter through the windows like a thief.10Before them the earth 23quakes, The heavens tremble, The 24sun and the moon grow dark And the stars lose their brightness.11The Lord 25utters His voice before 26His army; Surely His camp is very great, For 27strong is he who carries out His word. The 28day of the Lord is indeed great and very awesome, And 29who can endure it?12“Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “30Return to Me with all your heart, And with 31fasting, weeping and mourning;13And 32rend your heart and not 33your garments.” Now return to the Lord your God, For He is 34gracious and compassionate, Slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness And 35relenting of evil.14Who knows 36whether He will not turn and relent And leave a 37blessing behind Him, Even 38a grain offering and a drink offering For the Lord your God?1539Blow a trumpet in Zion, 40Consecrate a fast, proclaim a solemn assembly,16Gather the people, 41sanctify the congregation, Assemble the elders, Gather the children and the nursing infants. Let the 42bridegroom come out of his room And the bride out of her bridal chamber.17Let the priests, the Lord’s ministers, Weep 43between the porch and the altar, And let them say, “44Spare Your people, O Lord, And do not make Your inheritance a 45reproach, A byword among the nations. Why should they among the peoples say, ‘46Where is their God?’”