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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"><title>Joel 2 CEV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/joel/2.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" 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3">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading">Contemporary English Version</div><div class="chap"><h3 class="s1">Locusts and an Enemy Army</h3>1Sound the trumpet on Zion,the Lord's sacred hill.Warn everyone to tremble!The judgment day of the Lordis coming soon.2It will be dark and gloomywith storm clouds overhead.Troops will cover the mountainslike thunderclouds.No army this powerfulhas ever been gathered beforeor will be gathered again.3Fiery flames surround them;no one escapes.Before they invaded,the land was like Eden;now only a desert remains.4<a href="#fn" id="link_Joel.2.4!x.1" class="notelink x-link"></a> They look like horsesand charge like cavalry.5They roar over mountainslike noisy chariots,or a mighty armyready for battle.They are a forest firethat feasts on straw.6The very sight of themis frightening.<a href="#fn" id="link_Joel.2.6!f.1" class="notelink f-link">+</a> 7They climb over wallslike warriors;they march in columnsand never turn aside.<a href="#fn" id="link_Joel.2.7!f.1" class="notelink f-link">+</a> 8They charge straight ahead,without pushing each other;even arrows and spearscannot make them retreat.9They swarm over city wallsand enter our homes;they crawl in through windows,just like thieves.10<a href="#fn" id="link_Joel.2.10!x.1" class="notelink x-link"></a> They make the earth trembleand the heavens shake;the sun and moon turn dark,and stars stop shining.11<a href="#fn" id="link_Joel.2.11!x.1" class="notelink x-link"></a> The Lord God leads this armyof countless troops,and they obey his commands.The day of his judgmentis so terriblethat no one can stand it.<h3 class="s1">The Lord's Invitation</h3>12The Lord said:It isn't too late.You can still return to mewith all your heart.Start crying and mourning!Go without eating.13Don't rip your clothesto show your sorrow.Instead, turn back to mewith broken hearts.I am merciful, kind, and caring.I don't easily lose my temper,and I don't like to punish.14I am the Lord your God.Perhaps I will change my mindand treat you with mercy.Then you will be blessedwith enough grain and winefor offering sacrifices to me.15Sound the trumpet on Zion!Call the people together.Show your sorrowby going without food.16<a href="#fn" id="link_Joel.2.16!x.1" class="notelink x-link"></a> Make sure that everyoneis fit to worship me.<a href="#fn" id="link_Joel.2.16!f.2" class="notelink f-link">+</a> Bring adults, children, babies,and even bring newlywedsfrom their festivities.17<a href="#fn" id="link_Joel.2.17!x.1" class="notelink x-link"></a> Tell my servants, the priests,to cry inside the templeand to offer this prayernear the altar:<a href="#fn" id="link_Joel.2.17!f.2" class="notelink f-link">+</a> “Save your people, Lord God!Don't let foreign nationsmake jokes about us.Don't let them laugh and ask,‘Where is your God?’ ”<h3 class="s1">The Lord Will Bless the Land</h3>18The Lord was deeply concernedabout his landand had pity on his people.19In answer to their prayershe said,“I will give you enough grain,wine, and olive oilto satisfy your needs.No longer will I let yoube insulted by the nations.20An army attacked from the north,but I will chase itinto a scorching desert.There it will rot and stinkfrom the Dead Seato the Mediterranean.”The Lord works wonders21and does great things.So tell the soil to celebrate22and wild animalsto stop being afraid.Grasslands are green again;fruit trees and fig treesare loaded with fruit.Grapevines are coveredwith grapes.23People of Zion,<a href="#fn" id="link_Joel.2.23!f.1" class="notelink f-link">+</a> celebrate in honorof the Lord your God!He is generous and has sentthe autumn and spring rainsin the proper seasons.<a href="#fn" id="link_Joel.2.23!f.2" class="notelink f-link">+</a> 24Grain will coveryour threshing places;jars will overflowwith wine and olive oil.<h3 class="s1">The Lord Will Rescue His People</h3>25I, the Lord your God,will make up for the lossescaused by those swarmsand swarms of locusts<a href="#fn" id="link_Joel.2.25!f.1" class="notelink f-link">+</a> I sent to attack you.26My people, you will eatuntil you are satisfied.Then you will praise mefor the wonderful thingsI have done.Never again will yoube put to shame.27Israel, you will knowthat I stand at your side.I am the Lord your God—there are no other gods.Never again will yoube put to shame.<h3 class="s1">The Lord Will Work Wonders</h3><h5 class="sp">The Lord said:</h5>28<a href="#fn" id="link_Joel.2.28!x.1" class="notelink x-link"></a> Later, I will give my Spiritto everyone.Your sons and daughterswill prophesy.Your old menwill have dreams,and your young menwill see visions.29In those days I will even givemy Spirit to my servants,both men and women.30I will work wondersin the sky aboveand on the earth below.There will be blood and fireand clouds of smoke.31<a href="#fn" id="link_Joel.2.31!x.1" class="notelink x-link"></a> The sun will turn dark,and the moonwill be as red as bloodbefore that greatand terrible daywhen I appear.32<a href="#fn" id="link_Joel.2.32!x.1" class="notelink x-link"></a> Then I, the Lord will save everyone who faithfully worships me. I have promised there will be survivors on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and among them will be my chosen ones.</div> </div> <a name="fn"></a> Footnotes: <note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">2.6 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">The very … frightening: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.</char></note> <note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">2.7 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">and never turn aside: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.</char></note> <note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">2.16 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">fit to worship me: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">This required going through certain kinds of ceremonies.</char></note> <note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">2.17 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">inside … altar: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">The Hebrew text has “between the porch and the altar,” which is the place where the priests usually prayed for the people.</char></note> <note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">2.23 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">Zion: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Jerusalem.</char></note> <note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">2.23 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">in … seasons: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Or “as he used to do.”</char></note> <note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">2.25 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">swarms … locusts: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">See the note at 1.4.</char></note></div></div> <div align="center">Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®) © 2006 American Bible Society. 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