Joel 2:1-2
Common English Bible
Announcement of alarm and peril
2 Blow the horn in Zion;
give a shout on my holy mountain!
Let all the people of the land tremble,
for the day of the Lord is coming.
It is near—
2 a day of darkness and no light,
a day of clouds and thick darkness!
Like blackness spread out upon the mountains,
a great and powerful army[a] comes,
unlike any that has ever come before them,
or will come after them in centuries ahead.
Footnotes
- Joel 2:2 Or a great and strong people
Joel 2:1-2
New International Version
An Army of Locusts
Let all who live in the land tremble,
for the day of the Lord(D) is coming.
It is close at hand(E)—
2 a day of darkness(F) and gloom,(G)
a day of clouds(H) and blackness.(I)
Like dawn spreading across the mountains
a large and mighty army(J) comes,
such as never was in ancient times(K)
nor ever will be in ages to come.
Joel 2:12-17
Common English Bible
Change your hearts
12 Yet even now, says the Lord,
return to me with all your hearts,
with fasting, with weeping, and with sorrow;
13 tear your hearts
and not your clothing.
Return to the Lord your God,
for he is merciful and compassionate,
very patient, full of faithful love,
and ready to forgive.
14 Who knows whether he will have a change of heart
and leave a blessing behind him,
a grain offering and a drink offering
for the Lord your God?
15 Blow the horn in Zion;
demand a fast;
request a special assembly.
16 Gather the people;
prepare a holy meeting;
assemble the elders;
gather the children,
even nursing infants.
Let the groom leave his room
and the bride her chamber.
17 Between the porch and the altar
let the priests, the Lord’s ministers, weep.
Let them say, “Have mercy, Lord, on your people,
and don’t make your inheritance a disgrace,
an example of failure among the nations.
Why should they say among the peoples,
‘Where is their God?’”
Joel 2:12-17
New International Version
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)’”
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.