1Blow the trumpet in Zion;

sound the alarm on my holy mountain!

Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble,

for the day of the LORD is coming, it is near—

2a day of darkness and gloom,

a day of clouds and thick darkness!

Like blackness spread upon the mountains

a great and powerful army comes;

their like has never been from of old,

nor will be again after them

in ages to come.

3Fire devours in front of them,

and behind them a flame burns.

Before them the land is like the garden of Eden,

but after them a desolate wilderness,

and nothing escapes them.

4They have the appearance of horses,

and like warhorses they charge.

5As with the rumbling of chariots,

they leap on the tops of the mountains,

like the crackling of a flame of fire

devouring the stubble,

like a powerful army

drawn up for battle.

6Before them peoples are in anguish,

all faces grow pale.2.6 Meaning of Heb uncertain

7Like warriors they charge,

like soldiers they scale the wall.

Each keeps to its own course,

they do not swerve from2.7 Gk Syr Vg: Heb they do not take a pledge along their paths.

8They do not jostle one another,

each keeps to its own track;

they burst through the weapons

and are not halted.

9They leap upon the city,

they run upon the walls;

they climb up into the houses,

they enter through the windows like a thief.

10The earth quakes before them,

the heavens tremble.

The sun and the moon are darkened,

and the stars withdraw their shining.

11The LORD utters his voice

at the head of his army;

how vast is his host!

Numberless are those who obey his command.

Truly the day of the LORD is great;

terrible indeed—who can endure it?

12Yet even now, says the LORD,

return to me with all your heart,

with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;

13rend your hearts and not your clothing.

Return to the LORD, your God,

for he is gracious and merciful,

slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love,

and relents from punishing.

14Who knows whether he will not turn and relent,

and leave a blessing behind him,

a grain-offering and a drink-offering

for the LORD, your God?

15Blow the trumpet in Zion;

sanctify a fast;

call a solemn assembly;

16gather the people.

Sanctify the congregation;

assemble the aged;

gather the children,

even infants at the breast.

Let the bridegroom leave his room,

and the bride her canopy.

17Between the vestibule and the altar

let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep.

Let them say, ‘Spare your people, O LORD,

and do not make your heritage a mockery,

a byword among the nations.

Why should it be said among the peoples,

“Where is their God?” ’

God's Response and Promise

18Then the LORD became jealous for his land,

and had pity on his people.

19In response to his people the LORD said:

I am sending you

grain, wine, and oil,

and you will be satisfied;

and I will no more make you

a mockery among the nations.

20I will remove the northern army far from you,

and drive it into a parched and desolate land,

its front into the eastern sea,

and its rear into the western sea;

its stench and foul smell will rise up.

Surely he has done great things!

21Do not fear, O soil;

be glad and rejoice,

for the LORD has done great things!

22Do not fear, you animals of the field,

for the pastures of the wilderness are green;

the tree bears its fruit,

the fig tree and vine give their full yield.

23O children of Zion, be glad

and rejoice in the LORD your God;

for he has given the early rain2.23 Meaning of Heb uncertain for your vindication,

he has poured down for you abundant rain,

the early and the later rain, as before.

24The threshing-floors shall be full of grain,

the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.

25I will repay you for the years

that the swarming locust has eaten,

the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter,

my great army, which I sent against you.

26You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied,

and praise the name of the LORD your God,

who has dealt wondrously with you.

And my people shall never again be put to shame.

27You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel,

and that I, the LORD, am your God and there is no other.

And my people shall never again be put to shame.

God's Spirit Poured Out

282.28 Ch 3.1 in Heb Then afterwards

I will pour out my spirit on all flesh;

your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

your old men shall dream dreams,

and your young men shall see visions.

29Even on the male and female slaves,

in those days, I will pour out my spirit.

30I will show portents in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. 31The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes. 32Then everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved; for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the LORD has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the LORD calls.