Joel 2

1 Blow the ram’s horn [a trumpet] in Zion [God’s holy mountain, the city of Jerusalem]; sound the alarm [a war cry, a shout of warning] on My holy mountain [a sacred and set-apart place]! Let all [every single one] who dwell [reside, live] in the land [the earth, the territory] tremble [shake with fear, be deeply moved], for the Day of the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God] is coming [approaching, drawing near]; indeed, it is near [close at hand, imminent]— word study 2 a day [of thick darkness, a time of gloom] of darkness [misery, destruction] and gloom [a difficult or trying time], a day [a period of time, an era] of clouds [a heavy sky] and blackness [thick darkness, obscurity]. Like the dawn [a new beginning, a time of hope] overspreading [spreading out, covering] the mountains [a place of encounter] a great [numerous, powerful] and strong [mighty, powerful] army [a large and organized group] appears, such as never [at no time, in no way] was of old [from the beginning, in the past], nor will ever [at any time, in any way] be in ages [generations, a long period of time] to come. word study 3 Before them a fire [consuming all in its path] devours, and behind them a flame [burning intensely] scorches. The land before them is like the Garden of Eden [a paradise of beauty and delight], but behind them, it is like a desert [barren and desolate] wasteland— surely nothing [no one, no thing] will escape them. word study 4 Their appearance [like the sight of horses, a supernatural vision] is like that of horses [chariot horses, swift steeds], and they gallop [run, charge] like swift steeds [war-horses, cavalry horses]. word study 5 With a sound [like the noise of] like that of chariots [rumbling vehicles, war-carriages] they bound [leap, skip about] over the mountaintops [the tops of the mountains], like the crackling [noise, roaring] of fire [flame, divine refining presence] consuming [devouring, eating] stubble [dry straw, worthless things], like a mighty [strong, powerful] army [people, nation] deployed [set in array, arranged] for battle [war, conflict]. word study 6 Nations [peoples, ethnic groups] writhe [twist, whirl] in horror [anguish, pain] before them [in their presence, face to face]; every face [presence, countenance] turns [gathers, becomes] pale [red with anxiety, ashen]. word study 7 They charge [run swiftly, like valiant men] like mighty men [strong warriors, champions]; they scale [climb, ascend] the walls [walls of protection, fortifications] like men of war [soldiers, warriors]. Each one marches [walks, goes] in formation [in his own way, in line], not swerving [turning aside, breaking ranks] from the course [path, way]. word study 8 They do not [crowd or oppress] jostle one another; each proceeds in his [own unique] path [or highway]. They burst through the defenses [or weapons], never [stopping or cutting off] breaking ranks [or their course]. word study 9 They storm [rush to and fro, leap upon] the city [a place with walls and a watchman]; they run [swiftly, with haste] along the wall [a barrier for protection]; they climb [ascend, go up] into houses [dwelling places, homes], entering [coming in, approaching] through windows [openings in the wall] like [in the manner of] thieves [those who take without permission]. word study 10 Before them [at their presence, in their face] the earth [land, ground] quakes [shakes, trembles]; the heavens [sky, universe] tremble [are shaken, quake]. The sun [the sun; the east or the west] and moon [natural satellite] grow dark [become black, are darkened] [lose their radiance], and the stars [celestial bodies, princes] lose [withdraw, gather up] their brightness [nogah, shining, brilliancy]. word study 11 The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] raises His voice [thunders, shouts commands] in the presence [face, before] of His army [host, countless locusts]. Indeed, His camp [army, group of people] is very large [great, immense], for mighty [powerful, strong] are those who obey [carry out, execute] His command [word, thing]. For the Day [time, period] of the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God] is great [important, significant] and very dreadful [terrible, fearful]. Who can endure [sustain, stand] it [the judgment, punishment]? word study 12 “Yet even now [at this very moment, in spite of past failures],” declares the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], “return [turn back, come back to Me] to Me with all [everything, your entire being] your heart [the innermost part of a person, including mind, will, and emotions], with fasting [abstaining from food, for spiritual reasons], weeping [overflowing tears, intense emotional response], and mourning [lamentation, intense sorrow].” word study 13 So rend [tear deeply] your hearts [the innermost part of your being, including mind, will, and emotions] and not your garments [outer clothing], and return [turn back, come back to a place of fellowship] to the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] your God [Elohim, the supreme God]. For He is gracious [full of kindness and generosity] and compassionate [merciful, showing pity and sympathy], slow [patient, long-suffering] to anger [a strong feeling of displeasure], abounding [richly supplied, overflowing] in loving devotion [faithful love, kindness, and mercy]. And He relents [changes His mind, turns away] from sending disaster [calamity, evil, or affliction]. word study 14 Who knows [perhaps, it is possible that]? He may turn [return, change direction] and relent [be sorry, show compassion] and leave [sparing, reserve] a blessing [prosperity, divine favor] behind Him [after Him, following Him]— grain [food, provision] and drink offerings [libation, ceremonial drink] for the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] your God [Elohim, Creator and Ruler]. word study 15 Blow [sound loudly] the ram’s horn [trumpet] in Zion [the city of God, Jerusalem], consecrate [set apart, sanctify] a fast [time of abstinence, spiritual reflection], proclaim [call out, invite] a sacred [solemn, holy] assembly [gathering, meeting]. word study 16 Gather [to bring together, assemble] the people [a nation, community], sanctify [set apart as holy, consecrate] the congregation [assembly], assemble [gather, collect] the aged [old, elderly], gather [to bring together, collect] the children [young ones, infants], even those nursing [suckling, receiving milk] at the breast [the swollen breast]. Let the bridegroom [son-in-law, husband] leave his room [chamber, private quarters], and the bride [daughter-in-law, wife] her chamber [canopy, wedding tent]. word study 17 Let the priests [ministers of the Lord, spiritual leaders] who minister [serve, attend to the needs of] before the LORD [Yehovah, the one true God] weep [cry out, mourn] between the portico [porch, entrance hall] and the altar [place of sacrifice, worship], saying, “Spare [have pity on, show compassion to] Your people [nation, heritage], O LORD [Yehovah, the one true God], and do not make [give, allow to become] Your heritage [inheritance, special possession] a reproach [shame, scorn], an object of scorn [ridicule, mockery] among the nations [Gentiles, non-Hebrews]. Why should they say [ask, declare] among the peoples [nations, tribes], ‘Where [in what place, what location] is their God [Elohim, divine ruler]?’” word study 18 Then the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] became jealous [zealous, envious, or resentful] for His land [the soil, ground, or territory], and He spared [had pity on, showed mercy to] His people [a nation, or those belonging to Him]. word study 19 And the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] answered His people: “Behold [look, see], I will send you grain [corn, wheat], new wine [freshly squeezed from grapes], and oil [for anointing and ceremonial purposes], and by them you will be satisfied [filled with enough, content]. I will never again [still, no more] make you a reproach [shame, scorn] among the nations [Gentiles, heathen]. word study 20 The northern [from the north, coming from an earlier time] army I will drive away [remove, send far off] from you, banishing [driving, expelling] it to a barren [dry, desolate] and desolate [waste, devastated] land, its front ranks [forepart, leading edge] into the Eastern [east, toward the rising sun] Sea, and its rear guard [hinder part, last] into the Western [west, toward the setting sun] Sea. And its stench [foul odor, bad smell] will rise; its foul odor [ill savor, unpleasant smell] will ascend. For He has done [accomplished, made] great things [mighty works, wonderful deeds]. word study 21 Do not [cease to fear, be afraid no more] be afraid, O land [earth, ground]; rejoice [be glad, joyful] and be glad [happy, joyful], for the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] has done [accomplished, made] great [mighty, magnificent] things [works, deeds]. word study 22 Do not be afraid [have no fear, do not dread], O beasts [cattle, animals] of the field [land, pasture], for the open pastures [grass-lands, meadows] have turned green [sprouted, grown], the trees [wood, timber] bear their fruit [produce, yield], and the fig tree [fig, a common food source] and vine [grapevine] yield their best [strength, abundance, fruit]. word study 23 Be glad [rejoice, celebrate], O children [sons, descendants] of Zion [the mountain, the city of God], and rejoice [be glad, delight] in the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] your God [Elohim, the supreme God], for He has given [provided, bestowed] you the autumn rains [the former rain, the early rain] for your vindication [righteousness, justice]. He sends [causes to come down] you showers [rain, refreshing downpour], both autumn [the former rain] and spring rains [the latter rain, the late rain], as before [in abundance]. word study 24 The threshing floors [barnes, places of grain separation] will be full [filled to capacity, abundant] of grain [wheat, corn, or other crops], and the vats [presses, wine containers] will overflow [run over, abound] with new wine [freshly squeezed, fermented] and oil [olive oil]. word study 25 I will repay [restore, give back] you for the years [periods of time, seasons] eaten [devoured, consumed] by locusts [swarming insects, a great army]— the swarming locust [cankerworm, plant-worm], the young locust [caterpillar, hopping locust], the destroying locust [palmer-worm, cutting locust], and the devouring locust [grasshopper, great locust] — My great [powerful, mighty] army [host, force] that I sent [dispatched, commissioned] against you. word study 26 You will have plenty to eat [in abundance, until satisfied], until you are satisfied [filled, content]. You will praise [give thanks, honor] the name [identity, character] of the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] your God [Elohim, Creator], who has worked [done, accomplished] wonders [miracles, marvelous deeds] for you [on your behalf]. My people [nation, community] will never again be put to shame [ashamed, disgraced, disappointed]. word study 27 Then you will know [be certain, understand] that I am present [in the midst, among] in Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, his descendants] and that I am the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] your God [Elohim, the one supreme God], and there is no other [none else, nothing]. My people [Amaw, a nation or tribe] will never again [still, forever] be put to shame [be ashamed, feel guilt or disappointment]. word study 28 And afterward [after this, in the last days], I will pour out My Spirit [Holy Spirit, breath of life] on all people [all flesh, everyone]. Your sons and daughters [children] will prophesy [speak forth, declare], your old men [elders] will dream dreams [have visions, receive revelations], your young men [youth] will see visions [gaze upon, perceive]. word study 29 Even on My menservants [servants, male slaves] and maidservants [handmaids, female slaves], I will pour out My Spirit [breath, presence] in those days. word study 30 I will show wonders [miracles, signs] in the heavens [sky, firmament] and on the earth, blood [shed, life] and fire [flames, burning] and columns [pillars, stacks] of smoke. word study 31 The sun will be turned [changed, transformed] to darkness [gloom, obscurity] and the moon to blood [red like blood, crimson] before the coming [arrival, appearance] of the great [mighty, awesome] and awesome Day of the LORD. word study 32 And everyone [whoever, all who] who calls [prays, invokes] on the name of the LORD [Yehovah] will be saved [delivered, kept safe]; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance [those who escape, safety], as the LORD has promised [said, declared], among the remnant [survivors, those left] called [chosen, summoned] by the LORD. word study