Joel 2:12-20

An Appeal for Repentance

2:12 “Yet even now,” the Lord says,

“return to me with all your heart –

with fasting, weeping, and mourning.

Tear your hearts,

not just your garments!”

2:13 Return to the Lord your God,

for he is merciful and compassionate,

slow to anger and boundless in loyal love – often relenting from calamitous punishment.

2:14 Who knows?

Perhaps he will be compassionate and grant a reprieve,

and leave blessing in his wake –

a meal offering and a drink offering for you to offer to the Lord your God!

2:15 Blow the trumpet in Zion.

Announce a holy fast;

proclaim a sacred assembly!

2:16 Gather the people;

sanctify an assembly!

Gather the elders;

gather the children and the nursing infants.

Let the bridegroom come out from his bedroom

and the bride from her private quarters.

2:17 Let the priests, those who serve the Lord, weep

from the vestibule all the way back to the altar.

Let them say, “Have pity, O Lord, on your people;

please do not turn over your inheritance to be mocked,

to become a proverb among the nations.

Why should it be said among the peoples,

“Where is their God?”

The Lord’s Response

2:18 Then the Lord became zealous for his land;

he had compassion on his people.

2:19 The Lord responded to his people,

“Look! I am about to restore your grain

as well as fresh wine and olive oil.

You will be fully satisfied.

I will never again make you an object of mockery among the nations.

2:20 I will remove the one from the north far from you.

I will drive him out to a dry and desolate place.

Those in front will be driven eastward into the Dead Sea,

and those in back westward into the Mediterranean Sea.

His stench will rise up as a foul smell.”

Indeed, the Lord has accomplished great things.