Joel · Literal Standard Version
Joel 2 Literal Standard Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 Blow a horn in Zion, || And shout in My holy hill, || All inhabitants of the earth tremble, || For the Day of YHWH is coming, for [it is] near!
1 Blow the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of Yahweh comes, for it is close at hand:
2 A day of darkness and thick darkness, || A day of cloud and thick darkness, || As darkness spread on the mountains, || A people numerous and mighty, || Like there has not been from of old, || And after it there is not again—Until the years of generation and generation.
2 A day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness. As the dawn spreading on the mountains, a great and strong people; there has never been the like, neither will there be any more after them, even to the years of many generations.
3 Before it fire has consumed, || And after it a flame burns, || As the Garden of Eden [is] the land before it, || And after it a wilderness—a desolation! And also there has not been to it an escape,
3 A fire devours before them, and behind them, a flame burns. The land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them, a desolate wilderness. Yes, and no one has escaped them.
4 As the appearance of horses [is] its appearance, || And as horsemen, so they run.
4 Their appearance is as the appearance of horses, and they run as horsemen.
5 As the noise of chariots, they skip on the tops of the mountains, || As the noise of a flame of fire devouring stubble, || As a mighty people set in array for battle.
5 Like the noise of chariots on the tops of the mountains, they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devours the stubble, like a strong people set in battle array.
6 Pained are peoples from its face, || All faces have gathered paleness.
6 At their presence the peoples are in anguish. All faces have grown pale.
7 They run as mighty ones, || As men of war they go up a wall, || And they each go in his own ways, || And they do not change their paths.
7 They run like mighty men. They climb the wall like warriors. They each march in his line, and they don’t swerve off course.
8 And each does not press his brother, || They each go on in his way, || If they fall by the missile, they are not cut off.
8 One doesn’t jostle another. They each march in their own path. They burst through the defenses and don’t break ranks.
9 In the city they run to and fro, || On the wall they run, || Into houses they go up by the windows, || They go in as a thief.
9 They rush on the city. They run on the wall. They climb up into the houses. They enter in at the windows like thieves.
10 At their face the earth has trembled, || The heavens have shaken, || Sun and moon have been black, || And stars have gathered up their shining.
10 The earth quakes before them. The heavens tremble. The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining.
11 And YHWH has given forth His voice before His force, || For His camp [is] very great, || For mighty [is] the doer of His word, || For great [is] the Day of YHWH—very fearful, || And who bears it?
11 Yahweh thunders his voice before his army, for his forces are very great; for he is strong who obeys his command; for the day of Yahweh is great and very awesome, and who can endure it?
12 “And also now,” a declaration of YHWH, || “Turn back to Me with all your heart, || And with fasting, and with weeping, || And with lamentation.”
12 “Yet even now,” says Yahweh, “turn to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning.”
13 And tear your heart, and not your garments, || And turn back to your God YHWH, || For He [is] gracious and merciful, || Slow to anger, and abundant in kindness, || And relenting from evil.
13 Tear your heart and not your garments, and turn to Yahweh, your God; for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, and relents from sending calamity.
14 Who knows—He turns back, || Indeed—He has relented, || And He has left behind Him a blessing, || A present and drink-offering of your God YHWH?
14 Who knows? He may turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, even a meal offering and a drink offering to Yahweh, your God.
15 Blow a horn in Zion, || Sanctify a fast—proclaim a restraint.
15 Blow the trumpet in Zion! Sanctify a fast. Call a solemn assembly.
16 Gather the people, sanctify an assembly, || Assemble the aged, || Gather infants and sucklings of the breasts, || Let a bridegroom go out from his inner chamber, || And a bride out of her closet.
16 Gather the people. Sanctify the assembly. Assemble the elders. Gather the children, and those who nurse from breasts. Let the bridegroom go out of his room, and the bride out of her chamber.
17 Let the priests weep between the porch and the altar, servants of YHWH, || And let them say: “Have pity, O YHWH, on Your people, || And do not give Your inheritance to reproach, || To the ruling over them of nations, || Why do they say among peoples, Where [is] their God?”
17 Let the priests, the ministers of Yahweh, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, “Spare your people, Yahweh, and don’t give your heritage to reproach, that the nations should rule over them. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’”
18 And let YHWH be zealous for His land, || And have pity on His people.
18 Then Yahweh was jealous for his land, and had pity on his people.
19 Let YHWH answer and say to His people, || “Behold, I am sending to you the grain, || And the new wine, and the oil, || And you have been satisfied with it, || And I make you no longer a reproach among nations,
19 Yahweh answered his people, “Behold, I will send you grain, new wine, and oil, and you will be satisfied with them; and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations.
20 And the northern I put far off from you, || And have driven him to a land dry and desolate, || With his face toward the Eastern Sea, || And his rear to the Western Sea, || And his stink has come up, || And his stench comes up, || For he has exerted himself to work.”
20 But I will remove the northern army far away from you, and will drive it into a barren and desolate land, its front into the eastern sea, and its back into the western sea; and its stench will come up, and its bad smell will rise.” Surely he has done great things.
21 Do not fear, O land! Be glad and rejoice, || For YHWH has exerted Himself to work.
21 Land, don’t be afraid. Be glad and rejoice, for Yahweh has done great things.
22 Do not fear, O livestock of the field! For pastures of a wilderness have sprung up, || For the tree has borne its fruit, || Fig tree and vine have given their strength!
22 Don’t be afraid, you animals of the field; for the pastures of the wilderness spring up, for the tree bears its fruit. The fig tree and the vine yield their strength.
23 And you sons of Zion, || Be glad and rejoice in your God YHWH, || For He has given to you the Teacher for righteousness, || And causes a shower to come down to you, || Early rain and spring rain [as] in the beginning.
23 “Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in Yahweh, your God; for he gives you the early rain in just measure, and he causes the rain to come down for you, the early rain and the latter rain, as before.
24 And the floors have been full [with] pure grain, || And the presses have overflown [with] new wine and oil.
24 The threshing floors will be full of wheat, and the vats will overflow with new wine and oil.
25 “And I have repaid to you the years that the locust consumed, || The cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmer-worm, || My great force that I sent against you.
25 I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the great locust, the grasshopper, and the caterpillar, my great army, which I sent among you.
26 And you have eaten, eating and being satisfied, || And have praised the Name of your God YHWH, || Who has dealt with you wonderfully, || And My people are not ashamed for all time.
26 You will have plenty to eat and be satisfied, and will praise the name of Yahweh, your God, who has dealt wondrously with you; and my people will never again be disappointed.
27 And you have known that I [am] in the midst of Israel, || And I [am] your God YHWH, and there is none else, || And My people are not ashamed for all time.
27 You will know that I am among Israel, and that I am Yahweh, your God, and there is no one else; and my people will never again be disappointed.
28 And it has come to pass afterward, || I pour out My Spirit on all flesh, || And your sons and your daughters have prophesied, || Your old men dream dreams, || Your young men see visions.
28 “It will happen afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; and your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions.
29 And also on the menservants and on the maidservants, || In those days I pour out My Spirit.
29 And also on the servants and on the handmaids in those days, I will pour out my Spirit.
30 And I have given wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood, and fire, and columns of smoke.
30 I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth: blood, fire, and pillars of smoke.
31 The sun is turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, || Before the coming of the Day of YHWH, || The great and the fearful.
31 The sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of Yahweh comes.
32 And it has come to pass, || Everyone who calls on the Name of YHWH is delivered, || For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there is an escape, || As YHWH has said, || And among the remnants whom YHWH is calling!”
32 It will happen that whoever will call on Yahweh’s name shall be saved; for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be those who escape, as Yahweh has said, and among the remnant, those whom Yahweh calls.
Cross references (32)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Joel 2:15; Joel 1:15; 1 Peter 4:7; Malachi 4:1; Zephaniah 1:14
- 2 Joel 1:6; Zephaniah 1:14–15; Joel 2:10–11; Amos 5:18–20; Joel 2:5
- 3 Isaiah 51:3; Genesis 2:8; Joel 1:19–20; Zechariah 7:14; Amos 7:4
- 4 Revelation 9:7
- 5 Isaiah 5:24; Revelation 9:9; Isaiah 30:30; Matthew 3:12; Nahum 2:3–4
- 6 Nahum 2:10; Isaiah 13:8; Jeremiah 30:6; Lamentations 4:8; Psalm 119:83
- 7 Proverbs 30:27; Jeremiah 5:10; 2 Samuel 2:18–19; Isaiah 5:26–29; 2 Samuel 1:23
- 8 2 Chronicles 23:10; Job 33:18; Nehemiah 4:23; 2 Chronicles 32:5; Nehemiah 4:17
- 9 Jeremiah 9:21; John 10:1; Exodus 10:6
- 10 Matthew 24:29; Isaiah 13:10; Joel 3:15–16; Psalm 18:7; Acts 2:20
- 11 Malachi 3:2; Nahum 1:6; Revelation 18:8; Joel 3:16; Jeremiah 30:7
- 12 James 4:8–9; Isaiah 55:6–7; 2 Chronicles 7:13–14; Hosea 12:6; Jeremiah 29:12–13
- 13 Psalm 86:15; Psalm 34:18; Isaiah 57:15; Exodus 34:6–7; Matthew 5:3–4
- 14 Jonah 3:9; Haggai 2:19; 2 Samuel 12:22; 2 Kings 19:4; Amos 5:15
- 15 Joel 1:14; Joel 2:1; Numbers 10:3; 1 Kings 21:12; 1 Kings 21:9
- 16 2 Chronicles 20:13; 2 Chronicles 29:5; 1 Corinthians 7:5; 1 Samuel 16:5; Exodus 19:22
- 17 Psalm 115:2; Psalm 79:10; Ezekiel 8:16; Hosea 14:2; Exodus 34:9
- 18 Zechariah 8:2; Psalm 103:13; Zechariah 1:14; James 5:11; Lamentations 3:22
- 19 Ezekiel 34:29; Ezekiel 36:15; Jeremiah 31:12; Isaiah 62:8–9; Joel 2:24
- 20 Zechariah 14:8; Amos 4:10; Isaiah 34:3; Deuteronomy 11:24; Ezekiel 47:18
- 21 Zephaniah 3:16–17; Isaiah 54:4; Psalm 126:1–3; Isaiah 41:10; 1 Samuel 12:16
- 22 Zechariah 8:12; Psalm 65:12; Isaiah 51:3; Psalm 67:6; Amos 9:14–15
- 23 James 5:7–8; Philippians 4:4; Leviticus 26:4; Hosea 6:3; Deuteronomy 11:14
- 24 Malachi 3:10; Amos 9:13; Joel 3:18; Joel 3:13; Leviticus 26:10
- 25 Zechariah 10:6; Joel 1:4–7; Joel 2:2–11
- 26 Romans 10:11; Psalm 22:26; Romans 5:5; Deuteronomy 12:7; Isaiah 49:23
- 27 Ezekiel 37:26–28; Leviticus 26:11–12; Zephaniah 3:17; Ezekiel 39:28; Isaiah 45:5
- 28 Acts 2:16–21; Ezekiel 39:29; Isaiah 32:15; Acts 2:39; Acts 2:2–4
- 29 1 Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:28; Colossians 3:11
- 30 Acts 2:19–20; Luke 21:11; Matthew 24:29; Luke 21:25–26; Judges 20:40
- 31 Revelation 6:12–13; Matthew 24:29; Malachi 4:1; Malachi 4:5; Joel 3:15
- 32 Romans 10:11–14; Acts 2:20–21; Isaiah 46:13; Romans 11:26; Jeremiah 33:3
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
… for it was the third hour of the day; but that this was what had been spoken by the prophet: "It shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh, and they shall prophesy." The God, therefore, who did promise by the prophet, that He would send His Spirit …
… pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your old men shall dream, and your young men shall see visions: and even on my servants and mine handmaids in those days will I pour out my Spirit." Chapter 31 — Of the Predictions Concerning the Salvation of the World in Christ, in… …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)
Do thou also then groan, even as that holy one, I forbid it not. "Rend," as the prophet commanded, "thine heart, and not thy garments." Out of deeps call upon God, for it is said, "Out of the depths have I cried to Thee, O Lord." From beneath, out of the heart, draw forth a voice, make thy prayer a …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)
"The day of the Lord," Scripture says, "is great and very terrible," and elsewhere "Woe unto you that desire the day of the Lord: to what end is it for you?
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 8 (1895)