2:1 Blow ye the horn in Zion, and sound an alarm in My holy mountain; let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is at hand;
2:2 A day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, as blackness spread upon the mountains; a great people and a mighty, there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after them, even to the years of many generations.
2:3 A fire devoureth before them, and behind them a flame blazeth; the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing escapeth them.
2:4 The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so do they run.
2:5 Like the noise of chariots, on the tops of the mountains do they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a mighty people set in battle array.
2:6 At their presence the peoples are in anguish; all faces have gathered blackness.
2:7 They run like mighty men, they climb the wall like men of war; and they move on every one in his ways, and they entangle not their paths.
2:8 Neither doth one thrust another, they march every one in his highway; and they break through the weapons, and suffer no harm.
2:9 They leap upon the city, they run upon the wall, they climb up into the houses; they enter in at the windows like a thief.
2:10 Before them the earth quaketh, the heavens tremble; the sun and the moon are become black, and the stars withdraw their shining.
2:11 And the Lord uttereth His voice before His army; for His camp is very great, for he is mighty that executeth His word; for great is the day of the Lord and very terrible; and who can abide it?
2:12 Yet even now, saith the Lord, turn ye unto Me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with lamentation;
2:13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God; for He is gracious and compassionate, long-suffering, and abundant in mercy, and repenteth Him of the evil.
2:14 Who knoweth whether He will not turn and repent, and leave a blessing behind Him, even a meal-offering and a drink-offering unto the Lord your God?
2:15 Blow the horn in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly;
2:16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts; let the bridegroom go forth from his chamber, and the bride out of her pavilion.
2:17 Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say: 'Spare thy people, O the Lord, and give not Thy heritage to reproach, that the nations should make them a byword: wherefore should they say among the peoples: Where is their God?'
2:18 Then was the Lord jealous for His land, and had pity on His people.
2:19 And the Lord answered and said unto His people: 'Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith; and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations;
2:20 But I will remove far off from you the northern one, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the eastern sea, and his hinder part toward the western sea; that his foulness may come up, and his ill savour may come up, because he hath done great things.'
2:21 Fear not, O land, be glad and rejoice; for the Lord hath done great things.
2:22 Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field; for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth its fruit, the fig-tree and the vine do yield their strength.
2:23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God; for He giveth you the former rain in just measure, and He causeth to come down for you the rain, the former rain and the latter rain, at the first.
2:24 And the floors shall be full of corn, and the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.
2:25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the canker-worm, and the caterpiller, and the palmer-worm, My great army which I sent among you.
2:26 And ye shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and shall praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you; and My people shall never be ashamed.
2:27 And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God, and there is none else; and My people shall never be ashamed.