Chapter 2

Blow³ ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm⁵⁴ in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants⁶ of the land tremble:⁴ for the day of the LORD cometh,¹ for [it is] nigh at hand;

A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread⁷ upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been⁸ ever the like, neither shall be any more⁵⁵ after it, [even] to the years of many generations.

A fire devoureth¹ before them; and behind them a flame burneth:¹⁷ the land [is] as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.

The appearance of them [is] as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run.⁴

Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap,¹⁷ like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth⁶ the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.⁷

Before their face the people shall be much pained:⁴ all faces shall gather¹⁴ blackness.

They shall run⁴ like mighty men; they shall climb⁴ the wall like men of war; and they shall march⁴ every one on his ways, and they shall not break¹⁷ their ranks:

Neither shall one thrust⁴ another; they shall walk⁴ every one in his path: and [when] they fall⁴ upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.⁴

They shall run to and fro⁴ in the city; they shall run⁴ upon the wall, they shall climb up⁴ upon the houses; they shall enter in⁴ at the windows like a thief.

The earth shall quake¹ before them; the heavens shall tremble:¹ the sun and the moon shall be dark,¹ and the stars shall withdraw¹ their shining:

And the LORD shall utter¹ his voice before his army: for his camp [is] very great: for [he is] strong that executeth⁶ his word: for the day of the LORD [is] great and very terrible;¹² and who can abide⁵⁵ it?

Therefore also now, saith⁷ the LORD, turn³ ye [even] to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:

And rend³ your heart, and not your garments, and turn³ unto the LORD your God: for he [is] gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth¹² him of the evil.

Who knoweth⁶ [if] he will return⁴ and repent,⁸ and leave⁵² a blessing behind him; [even] a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?

Blow³ the trumpet in Zion, sanctify¹⁶ a fast, call³ a solemn assembly:

Gather³ the people, sanctify¹⁶ the congregation, assemble³ the elders, gather³ the children, and those that suck⁶ the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth⁴ of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.

Let the priests, the ministers¹⁸ of the LORD, weep⁴ between the porch and the altar, and let them say,⁴ Spare³ thy people, O LORD, and give⁴ not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule² over them: wherefore should they say⁴ among the people, Where [is] their God?

Then will the LORD be jealous¹⁷ for his land, and pity⁴ his people.

Yea, the LORD will answer⁴ and say⁴ unto his people, Behold, I will send⁶ you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied¹ therewith: and I will no more make⁴ you a reproach among the heathen:

But I will remove far off⁵⁵ from you the northern [army], and will drive⁵² him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up,¹ and his ill savour shall come up,⁴ because he hath done² great things.⁵²

Fear⁴ not, O land; be glad³ and rejoice:³ for the LORD will do² great things.⁵²

Be not afraid,⁴ ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring,¹ for the tree beareth¹ her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield¹ their strength.

Be glad³ then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice³ in the LORD your God: for he hath given¹ you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down⁵⁵ for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first [month].

And the floors shall be full¹ of wheat, and the fats shall overflow⁵² with wine and oil.

And I will restore¹⁴ to you the years that the locust hath eaten,¹ the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent¹⁴ among you.

And ye shall eat¹ in plenty,² and be satisfied,² and praise¹⁴ the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt¹ wondrously⁵³ with you: and my people shall never ⁵⁷⁶⁹ be ashamed.⁴

And ye shall know¹ that I [am] in the midst of Israel, and [that] I [am] the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never ⁵⁷⁶⁹ be ashamed.⁴

And it shall come to pass afterward, [that] I will pour out⁴ my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,⁸ your old men shall dream⁴ dreams, your young men shall see⁴ visions:

And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out⁴ my spirit.

And I will shew¹ wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.

The sun shall be turned¹¹ into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible¹² day of the LORD come.²

And it shall come to pass, [that] whosoever shall call⁴ on the name of the LORD shall be delivered:¹¹ for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said,¹ and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.⁶