BibleStudyIt Joel 2

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.

³ Before them fire ^{( L )} devours,
behind them a flame blazes.
Before them the land is like the garden of Eden, ^{( M )}
behind them, a desert waste ^{( N )} —
nothing escapes them.
⁴ They have the appearance of horses; ^{( O )}
they gallop along like cavalry.
⁵ With a noise like that of chariots ^{( P )}
they leap over the mountaintops,
like a crackling fire ^{( Q )} consuming stubble,
like a mighty army drawn up for battle.

⁶ At the sight of them, nations are in anguish; ^{( R )}
every face turns pale. ^{( S )
7} They charge like warriors; ^{( T )}
they scale walls like soldiers.
They all march in line, ^{( U )}
not swerving ^{( V )} from their course.
⁸ They do not jostle each other;
each marches straight ahead.
They plunge through defenses
without breaking ranks.
⁹ They rush upon the city;
they run along the wall.
They climb into the houses; ^{( W )}
like thieves they enter through the windows. ^{( X )}

¹⁰ Before them the earth shakes, ^{( Y )}
the heavens tremble, ^{( Z )}
the sun and moon are darkened, ^{( AA )}
and the stars no longer shine. ^{( AB )
11} The Lord ^{( AC )} thunders ^{( AD )}
at the head of his army; ^{( AE )}
his forces are beyond number,
and mighty is the army that obeys his command.
The day of the Lord is great; ^{( AF )}
it is dreadful.
Who can endure it? ^{( AG )}

¹³ Rend your heart ^{( AJ )}
and not your garments. ^{( AK )}
Return ^{( AL )} to the Lord your God,
for he is gracious and compassionate, ^{( AM )}
slow to anger and abounding in love, ^{( AN )}
and he relents from sending calamity. ^{( AO )
14} Who knows? He may turn ^{( AP )} and relent ^{( AQ )}
and leave behind a blessing ^{( AR )} —
grain offerings and drink offerings ^{( AS )}
for the Lord your God.

¹⁵ Blow the trumpet ^{( AT )} in Zion, ^{( AU )}
declare a holy fast, ^{( AV )}
call a sacred assembly. ^{( AW )
16} Gather the people,
consecrate ^{( AX )} the assembly;
bring together the elders, ^{( AY )}
gather the children,
those nursing at the breast.
Let the bridegroom ^{( AZ )} leave his room
and the bride her chamber.
¹⁷ Let the priests, who minister ^{( BA )} before the Lord ,
weep ^{( BB )} between the portico and the altar. ^{( BC )}
Let them say, “Spare your people, Lord .
Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn, ^{( BD )}
a byword ^{( BE )} among the nations.
Why should they say among the peoples,
‘Where is their God? ^{( BF )} ’”

“I am sending you grain, new wine ^{( BI )} and olive oil, ^{( BJ )}
enough to satisfy you fully; ^{( BK )}
never again will I make you
an object of scorn ^{( BL )} to the nations.

²⁰ “I will drive the northern horde ^{( BM )} far from you,
pushing it into a parched and barren land;
its eastern ranks will drown in the Dead Sea
and its western ranks in the Mediterranean Sea.
And its stench ^{( BN )} will go up;
its smell will rise.”

Surely he has done great things!
²¹ Do not be afraid, ^{( BO )} land of Judah;
be glad and rejoice. ^{( BP )}
Surely the Lord has done great things! ^{( BQ )
22} Do not be afraid, you wild animals,
for the pastures in the wilderness are becoming green. ^{( BR )}
The trees are bearing their fruit;
the fig tree ^{( BS )} and the vine ^{( BT )} yield their riches. ^{( BU )
23} Be glad, people of Zion,
rejoice ^{( BV )} in the Lord your God,
for he has given you the autumn rains
because he is faithful. ^{( BW )}
He sends you abundant showers, ^{( BX )}
both autumn ^{( BY )} and spring rains, ^{( BZ )} as before.
²⁴ The threshing floors will be filled with grain;
the vats will overflow ^{( CA )} with new wine ^{( CB )} and oil.

²⁵ “I will repay you for the years the locusts ^{( CC )} have eaten ^{( CD )} —
the great locust and the young locust,
the other locusts and the locust swarm ^{[ b ]} —
my great army ^{( CE )} that I sent among you.
²⁶ You will have plenty to eat, until you are full, ^{( CF )}
and you will praise ^{( CG )} the name of the Lord your God,
who has worked wonders ^{( CH )} for you;
never again will my people be shamed. ^{( CI )
27} Then you will know ^{( CJ )} that I am in Israel,
that I am the Lord ^{( CK )} your God,
and that there is no other;
never again will my people be shamed. ^{( CL )}