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; Indeed, it is near,2A day of 3darkness and gloom, A day of clouds and thick darkness. As 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 devours. 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 about on the tops of the mountains, Like the 12crackling of a 13flame of fire consuming the stubble, Like a mighty people drawn up for battle.6Before them the people are in 14anguish; All 15faces 16turn pale.7They run like warriors, They climb the wall like soldiers; And each of them 17marches 18in line, Nor do they lose their way.8They do not crowd each other, Every warrior of them marches in his path; When they 19burst through the 20defenses, They do not break ranks.9They storm 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 become dark, And the stars lose their brightness.11The Lord 25utters His voice before 26His army; His camp is indeed very great, For 27mighty is one 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 32tear your heart and not merely 33your garments.” Now return to the Lord your God, For He is 34gracious and compassionate, Slow to anger, abounding in mercy And 35relenting of catastrophe.14Who knows, 36He might turn and relent, And leave a 37blessing behind Him, Resulting in 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. Have the 42groom 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, “4445Spare Your people, Lord, And do not make Your inheritance a 46disgrace, With the nations jeering at them. Why should those among the peoples say, ‘47Where is their God?’”