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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=1.0; maximum-scale=1.0; user-scalable=0;"/><title>Joel 2 New American Bible</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 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cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../joel/1.htm" 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 American Bible Revised Edition</td><td width="1%" valign="top"></td></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><section id="ch36002" class="chapter"> <h1 class="bksect">II. <span class="ac">The Day of the Lord</span></h1> <h1 id="cn36002" class="cn"></h1> <section> <h2 class="ahaft">The Day Approaches</h2> <div class="senseline"> <p class="slf"><span id="v36002001" class="ver">1</span><a id="rfn36002001-1" class="fnref" href="footnotes.htm#fn36002001-1">*</a>Blow the horn in Zion,</p> <p class="sl1">sound the alarm on my holy mountain!</p> <p class="sl">Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble,</p> <p class="sl1">for the day of the <span class="tetr">Lord</span> is coming!<a id="ren36002001-a" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en36002001-a">a</a></p> <p class="sl">Yes, it approaches,</p> <p class="sl1"><span id="v36002002" class="ver">2</span>a day of darkness and gloom,</p> <p class="sl1">a day of thick clouds!</p> <p class="sl">Like dawn<a id="rfn36002002-1" class="fnref" href="footnotes.htm#fn36002002-1">*</a> spreading over the mountains,</p> <p class="sl1">a vast and mighty army!</p> <p class="sl">Nothing like it has ever happened in ages past,</p> <p class="sl1">nor will the future hold anything like it,</p> <p class="sl1">even to the most distant generations.<a id="ren36002002-b" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en36002002-b">b</a></p> <p class="sl"><span id="v36002003" class="ver">3</span>Before it,<a id="rfn36002003-1" class="fnref" href="footnotes.htm#fn36002003-1">*</a> fire devours,</p> <p class="sl1">behind it flame scorches.</p> <p class="sl">The land before it is like the garden of Eden,</p> <p class="sl1">and behind it, a desolate wilderness;</p> <p class="sl1">from it nothing escapes.<a id="ren36002003-c" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en36002003-c">c</a></p> <p class="sl"><span id="v36002004" class="ver">4</span>Their appearance is that of horses;</p> <p class="sl1">like war horses they run.</p> <p class="sl"><span id="v36002005" class="ver">5</span>Like the rumble of chariots</p> <p class="sl1">they hurtle across mountaintops;</p> <p class="sl">Like the crackling of fiery flames</p> <p class="sl1">devouring stubble;</p> <p class="sl">Like a massive army</p> <p class="sl1">in battle formation.<a id="ren36002005-d" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en36002005-d">d</a></p> <p class="sl"><span id="v36002006" class="ver">6</span>Before them peoples tremble,</p> <p class="sl1">every face turns pale.<a id="ren36002006-e" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en36002006-e">e</a></p> <p class="sl"><span id="v36002007" class="ver">7</span>Like warriors they run,</p> <p class="sl1">like soldiers they scale walls,</p> <p class="sl">Each advancing in line,</p> <p class="sl1">without swerving from the course.</p> <p class="sl"><span id="v36002008" class="ver">8</span>No one crowds the other;</p> <p class="sl1">each advances in its own track;</p> <p class="sl">They plunge through the weapons;</p> <p class="sl1">they are not checked.</p> <p class="sl"><span id="v36002009" class="ver">9</span>They charge the city,</p> <p class="sl1">they run upon the wall,</p> <p class="sl1">they climb into the houses;</p> <p class="sl">Through the windows</p> <p class="sl1">they enter like thieves.</p> <p class="slf"><span id="v36002010" class="ver">10</span>Before them the earth trembles;</p> <p class="sl1">the heavens shake;</p> <p class="sl">Sun and moon are darkened,</p> <p class="sl1">and the stars withhold their brightness.<a id="ren36002010-f" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en36002010-f">f</a></p> <p class="sl"><span id="v36002011" class="ver">11</span>The <span class="tetr">Lord</span> raises his voice</p> <p class="sl1">at the head of his army;</p> <p class="sl">How immense is his host!</p> <p class="sl1">How numerous those who carry out his command!</p> <p class="sl">How great is the day of the <span class="tetr">Lord</span>!</p> <p class="sl1">Utterly terrifying! Who can survive it?<a id="ren36002011-g" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en36002011-g">g</a></p> </div> </section> <section> <h2 class="ah">Return to the Lord</h2> <div class="senseline"> <p class="slf"><span id="v36002012" class="ver">12</span>Yet even now—oracle of the <span class="tetr">Lord</span>—</p> <p class="sl1">return to me with your whole heart,</p> <p class="sl1">with fasting, weeping, and mourning.</p> <p class="sl"><span id="v36002013" class="ver">13</span>Rend your hearts, not your garments,</p> <p class="sl1">and return to the <span class="tetr">Lord</span>, your God,</p> <p class="sl">For he is gracious and merciful,</p> <p class="sl1">slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love,</p> <p class="sl1">and relenting in punishment.<a id="ren36002013-h" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en36002013-h">h</a></p> <p class="sl"><span id="v36002014" class="ver">14</span>Perhaps he will again relent</p> <p class="sl1">and leave behind a blessing,<a id="rfn36002014-1" class="fnref" href="footnotes.htm#fn36002014-1">*</a></p> <p class="sl">Grain offering and libation</p> <p class="sl1">for the <span class="tetr">Lord</span>, your God.<a id="ren36002014-i" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en36002014-i">i</a></p> <p class="sl"><span id="v36002015" class="ver">15</span>Blow the horn in Zion!</p> <p class="sl1">Proclaim a fast,</p> <p class="sl1">call an assembly!<a id="ren36002015-j" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en36002015-j">j</a></p> <p class="sl"><span id="v36002016" class="ver">16</span>Gather the people,</p> <p class="sl1">sanctify the congregation;</p> <p class="sl">Assemble the elderly;</p> <p class="sl1">gather the children,</p> <p class="sl1">even infants nursing at the breast;</p> <p class="sl">Let the bridegroom leave his room,</p> <p class="sl1">and the bride<a id="rfn36002016-1" class="fnref" href="footnotes.htm#fn36002016-1">*</a> her bridal tent.</p> <p class="sl"><span id="v36002017" class="ver">17</span>Between the porch and the altar<a id="rfn36002017-1" class="fnref" href="footnotes.htm#fn36002017-1">*</a></p> <p class="sl1">let the priests weep,</p> <p class="sl1">let the ministers of the <span class="tetr">Lord</span> weep and say:</p> <p class="sl">“Spare your people, <span class="tetr">Lord</span>!</p> <p class="sl1">do not let your heritage become a disgrace,</p> <p class="sl1">a byword among the nations!</p> <p class="sl">Why should they say among the peoples,</p> <p class="sl1">‘Where is their God?’ ”<a id="ren36002017-k" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en36002017-k">k</a></p> </div> <p class="psec"><span class="hemb">The Lord Relents.</span> <span id="v36002018" class="ver">18</span>Then the <span class="tetr">Lord</span> grew jealous<a id="rfn36002018-1" class="fnref" href="footnotes.htm#fn36002018-1">*</a> for his land and took pity on his people. <span id="v36002019" class="ver">19</span>In response the <span class="tetr">Lord</span> said to his people:</p> <div class="senseline"> <p class="slf">I am sending you</p> <p class="sl1">grain, new wine, and oil,</p> <p class="sl1">and you will be satisfied by them;</p> <p class="sl">Never again will I make you</p> <p class="sl1">a disgrace among the nations.</p> <p class="sl"><span id="v36002020" class="ver">20</span>The northerner<a id="rfn36002020-1" class="fnref" href="footnotes.htm#fn36002020-1">*</a> I will remove far from you,</p> <p class="sl1">driving them out into a dry and desolate land,</p> <p class="sl">Their vanguard to the eastern sea,</p> <p class="sl1">their rearguard to the western sea,</p> <p class="sl">And their stench will rise,</p> <p class="sl1">their stink will ascend,</p> <p class="sl">What great deeds the Lord has done!</p> <p class="sl"><span id="v36002021" class="ver">21</span>Do not fear, O land!</p> <p class="sl1">delight and rejoice,</p> <p class="sl1">for the <span class="tetr">Lord</span> has done great things!<a id="ren36002021-l" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en36002021-l">l</a></p> <p class="sl"><span id="v36002022" class="ver">22</span>Do not fear, you animals in the wild,</p> <p class="sl1">for the wilderness pastures sprout green grass.</p> <p class="sl">The trees bear fruit,</p> <p class="sl1">the fig tree and the vine produce their harvest.</p> <p class="sl"><span id="v36002023" class="ver">23</span>Children of Zion, delight</p> <p class="sl1">and rejoice in the <span class="tetr">Lord</span>, your God!</p> <p class="sl">For he has faithfully given you the early rain,<a id="rfn36002023-1" class="fnref" href="footnotes.htm#fn36002023-1">*</a></p> <p class="sl1">sending rain down on you,</p> <p class="sl1">the early and the late rains as before.<a id="ren36002023-m" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en36002023-m">m</a></p> <p class="sl"><span id="v36002024" class="ver">24</span>The threshing floors will be full of grain,</p> <p class="sl1">the vats spilling over with new wine and oil.</p> <p class="sl"><span id="v36002025" class="ver">25</span>I will repay you double</p> <p class="sl1">what the swarming locust has eaten,</p> <p class="sl">The hopper, the consuming locust, and the cutter,</p> <p class="sl1">my great army I sent against you.<a id="ren36002025-n" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en36002025-n">n</a></p> <p class="sl"><span id="v36002026" class="ver">26</span>You will eat until you are fully satisfied,</p> <p class="sl1">then you will praise the name of the <span class="tetr">Lord</span>, your God,</p> <p class="sl">Who acts so wondrously on your behalf!</p> <p class="sl1">My people will never again be put to shame.</p> <p class="sl"><span id="v36002027" class="ver">27</span>Then you will know that I am in the midst of Israel:</p> <p class="sl1">I, the <span class="tetr">Lord</span>, am your God, and there is no other;</p> <p class="sl1">my people will never again be put to shame.<a id="ren36002027-o" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en36002027-o">o</a></p> </div> </section> </section> <br /><h1 class="cn"><a class="xref" href="intro.htm"><span class="ac">Book Introduction</span></a></h1><h1 class="cn"><a class="xref" href="footnotes.htm"><span class="ac">Footnotes</span></a></h1></div></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the <i>New American Bible, revised edition</i> © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. 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