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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://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 NIV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></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" 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title="Joel 1">◄</a> Joel 2 <a href="../joel/3.htm" title="Joel 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"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">New International Version</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/niv/esv/joel/2.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><p class="sectionhead">An Army of Locusts</p><div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/joel/2-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>Blow the trumpet in Zion;</p><p class="line2">sound the alarm on my holy hill.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line1">Let all who live in the land tremble,</p><p class="line2">for the day of the <span class="name">Lord</span> is coming.</p><p class="line1">It is close at hand—</p> <p class="line2"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/joel/2-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>a day of darkness and gloom,</p><p class="line2">a day of clouds and blackness.</p><p class="line1">Like dawn spreading across the mountains</p><p class="line2">a large and mighty army comes,</p><p class="line1">such as never was in ancient times</p><p class="line2">nor ever will be in ages to come.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/joel/2-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>Before them fire devours,</p><p class="line2">behind them a flame blazes.</p><p class="line1">Before them the land is like the garden of Eden,</p><p class="line2">behind them, a desert waste—</p><p class="line2">nothing escapes them.</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/joel/2-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>They have the appearance of horses;</p><p class="line2">they gallop along like cavalry.</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/joel/2-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>With a noise like that of chariots</p><p class="line2">they leap over the mountaintops,</p><p class="line1">like a crackling fire consuming stubble,</p><p class="line2">like a mighty army drawn up for battle.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/joel/2-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>At the sight of them, nations are in anguish;</p><p class="line2">every face turns pale.</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/joel/2-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>They charge like warriors;</p><p class="line2">they scale walls like soldiers.</p><p class="line1">They all march in line,</p><p class="line2">not swerving from their course.</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/joel/2-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>They do not jostle each other;</p><p class="line2">each marches straight ahead.</p><p class="line1">They plunge through defenses</p><p class="line2">without breaking ranks.</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/joel/2-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>They rush upon the city;</p><p class="line2">they run along the wall.</p><p class="line1">They climb into the houses;</p><p class="line2">like thieves they enter through the windows.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/joel/2-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>Before them the earth shakes,</p><p class="line2">the heavens tremble,</p><p class="line1">the sun and moon are darkened,</p><p class="line2">and the stars no longer shine.</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/joel/2-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>The <span class="name">Lord</span> thunders</p><p class="line2">at the head of his army;</p><p class="line1">his forces are beyond number,</p><p class="line2">and mighty is the army that obeys his command.</p><p class="line1">The day of the <span class="name">Lord</span> is great;</p><p class="line2">it is dreadful.</p><p class="line2">Who can endure it?</p></div> <p class="sectionhead">Rend Your Heart</p><div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/joel/2-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>“Even now,” declares the <span class="name">Lord</span>,</p><p class="line2">“return to me with all your heart,</p><p class="line2">with fasting and weeping and mourning.”</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/joel/2-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>Rend your heart</p><p class="line2">and not your garments.</p><p class="line1">Return to the <span class="name">Lord</span> your God,</p><p class="line2">for he is gracious and compassionate,</p><p class="line1">slow to anger and abounding in love,</p><p class="line2">and he relents from sending calamity.</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/joel/2-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>Who knows? He may turn and relent</p><p class="line2">and leave behind a blessing—</p><p class="line1">grain offerings and drink offerings</p><p class="line2">for the <span class="name">Lord</span> your God.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/joel/2-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>Blow the trumpet in Zion,</p><p class="line2">declare a holy fast,</p><p class="line2">call a sacred assembly.</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/joel/2-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>Gather the people,</p><p class="line2">consecrate the assembly;</p><p class="line1">bring together the elders,</p><p class="line2">gather the children,</p><p class="line2">those nursing at the breast.</p><p class="line1">Let the bridegroom leave his room</p><p class="line2">and the bride her chamber.</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/joel/2-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>Let the priests, who minister before the <span class="name">Lord</span>,</p><p class="line2">weep between the portico and the altar.</p><p class="line1">Let them say, “Spare your people, <span class="name">Lord</span>.</p><p class="line2">Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn,</p><p class="line2">a byword among the nations.</p><p class="line1">Why should they say among the peoples,</p><p class="line2">‘Where is their God?’ ”</p></div> <p class="sectionhead">The <span class="name">Lord</span>’s Answer</p><div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/joel/2-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>Then the <span class="name">Lord</span> was jealous for his land</p><p class="line2">and took pity on his people.</p></div> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/joel/2-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>The <span class="name">Lord</span> replied <span class="nivfootnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Or LORD will be jealous . . . and take pity . . . 19 The LORD will reply">a</a></sup></span> to them:</p><div class="stanza"><p class="line1">“I am sending you grain, new wine and olive oil,</p><p class="line2">enough to satisfy you fully;</p><p class="line1">never again will I make you</p><p class="line2">an object of scorn to the nations.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/joel/2-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>“I will drive the northern horde far from you,</p><p class="line2">pushing it into a parched and barren land;</p><p class="line1">its eastern ranks will drown in the Dead Sea</p><p class="line2">and its western ranks in the Mediterranean Sea.</p><p class="line1">And its stench will go up;</p><p class="line2">its smell will rise.”</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line1">Surely he has done great things!</p> <p class="line2"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/joel/2-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>Do not be afraid, land of Judah;</p><p class="line2">be glad and rejoice.</p><p class="line1">Surely the <span class="name">Lord</span> has done great things!</p> <p class="line2"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/joel/2-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>Do not be afraid, you wild animals,</p><p class="line2">for the pastures in the wilderness are becoming green.</p><p class="line1">The trees are bearing their fruit;</p><p class="line2">the fig tree and the vine yield their riches.</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/joel/2-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>Be glad, people of Zion,</p><p class="line2">rejoice in the <span class="name">Lord</span> your God,</p><p class="line1">for he has given you the autumn rains</p><p class="line2">because he is faithful.</p><p class="line1">He sends you abundant showers,</p><p class="line2">both autumn and spring rains, as before.</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/joel/2-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>The threshing floors will be filled with grain;</p><p class="line2">the vats will overflow with new wine and oil.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/joel/2-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>“I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten—</p><p class="line2">the great locust and the young locust,</p><p class="line2">the other locusts and the locust swarm <span class="nivfootnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="The precise meaning of the four Hebrew words used here for locusts is uncertain.">b</a></sup></span> —</p><p class="line1">my great army that I sent among you.</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/joel/2-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>You will have plenty to eat, until you are full,</p><p class="line2">and you will praise the name of the <span class="name">Lord</span> your God,</p><p class="line2">who has worked wonders for you;</p><p class="line1">never again will my people be shamed.</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/joel/2-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span>Then you will know that I am in Israel,</p><p class="line2">that I am the <span class="name">Lord</span> your God,</p><p class="line2">and that there is no other;</p><p class="line1">never again will my people be shamed.</p></div> <p class="sectionhead">The Day of the <span class="name">Lord</span></p><div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/joel/2-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span>“And afterward,</p><p class="line2">I will pour out my Spirit on all people.</p><p class="line1">Your sons and daughters will prophesy,</p><p class="line2">your old men will dream dreams,</p><p class="line2">your young men will see visions.</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/joel/2-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span>Even on my servants, both men and women,</p><p class="line2">I will pour out my Spirit in those days.</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/joel/2-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span>I will show wonders in the heavens</p><p class="line2">and on the earth,</p><p class="line2">blood and fire and billows of smoke.</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/joel/2-31.htm"><b>31</b></a></span>The sun will be turned to darkness</p><p class="line2">and the moon to blood</p><p class="line2">before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the <span class="name">Lord</span>.</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/joel/2-32.htm"><b>32</b></a></span>And everyone who calls</p><p class="line2">on the name of the <span class="name">Lord</span> will be saved;</p><p class="line1">for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem</p><p class="line2">there will be deliverance,</p><p class="line2">as the <span class="name">Lord</span> has said,</p><p class="line1">even among the survivors</p><p class="line2">whom the <span class="name">Lord</span> calls. <span class="nivfootnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="In Hebrew texts 2:28-32 is numbered 3:1-5.">c</a></sup></span> </p></div><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><A name="footnotes"></a><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="nivfootnotesbot">a</span> <span class="fnverse">19</span> <span class="footnotebot">Or <i><span class="name">Lord</span> will be jealous . . .<br />     and take pity . . .<br />     <span class="fnref">19</span>The <span class="name">Lord</span> will reply</i></span><br><span class="nivfootnotesbot">b</span> <span class="fnverse">25</span> <span class="footnotebot">The precise meaning of the four Hebrew words used here for locusts is uncertain.</span><br><span class="nivfootnotesbot">c</span> <span class="fnverse">32</span> <span class="footnotebot">In Hebrew texts 2:28-32 is numbered 3:1-5.</span><br><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"></div></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center"><p 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