Parallel Bible results for "joel 2"

Joel 2

New Century Version NCV

1 Blow the trumpet in Jerusalem; shout a warning on my holy mountain. Let all the people who live in the land shake with fear, because the Lord's day of judging is coming; it is near.

2 It will be a dark, gloomy day, cloudy and black. Like the light at sunrise, a great and powerful army will spread over the mountains. There has never been anything like it before, and there will never be anything like it again.

3 In front of them a fire destroys; in back of them a flame burns. The land in front of them is like the garden of Eden; the land behind them is like an empty desert. Nothing will escape from them.

4 They look like horses, and they run like war horses.

5 It is like the noise of chariots rumbling over the tops of the mountains, like the noise of a roaring fire burning dry stalks. They are like a powerful army lined up for battle.

6 When they see them, nations shake with fear, and everyone's face becomes pale.

7 They charge like soldiers; they climb over the wall like warriors. They all march straight ahead and do not move off their path.

8 They do not run into each other, because each walks in line. They break through all efforts to stop them and keep coming.

9 They run into the city. They run at the wall and climb into the houses, entering through windows like thieves.

10 Before them, earth and sky shake. The sun and the moon become dark, and the stars stop shining.

11 The Lord shouts out orders to his army. His army is very large! Those who obey him are very strong! is an overwhelming and terrible day. No one can stand up against it!

12 The Lord says, "Even now, come back to me with all your heart. Go without food, and cry and be sad."

13 Tearing your clothes is not enough to show you are sad; let your heart be broken. Come back to the Lord your God, because he is kind and shows mercy. He doesn't become angry quickly, and he has great love. He can change his mind about doing harm.

14 Who knows? Maybe he will turn back to you and leave behind a blessing for you. Grain and drink offerings belong to the Lord your God.

15 Blow the trumpet in Jerusalem; call for a day when no one eats food. Tell everyone to stop work.

16 Bring the people together and make the meeting holy for the Lord. Bring together the older leaders, as well as the children, and even babies that still feed at their mothers' breasts. The bridegroom should come from his room, the bride from her bedroom.

17 The priests, the Lord's servants, should cry between the altar and the entrance to the Temple. They should say, "Lord, have mercy on your people. Don't let them be put to shame; don't let other nations make fun of them. Don't let people in other nations ask, 'Where is their God?'"

18 Then the Lord became concerned about his land and felt sorry for his people.

19 He said to them: "I will send you grain, new wine, and olive oil, so that you will have plenty. No more will I shame you among the nations.

20 I will force the army from the north to leave your land and go into a dry, empty land. Their soldiers in front will be forced into the Dead Sea, and those in the rear into the Mediterranean Sea. Their bodies will rot and stink.

21 Land, don't be afraid; be happy and full of joy, because the Lord has done a wonderful thing.

22 Wild animals, don't be afraid, because the open pastures have grown grass. The trees have given fruit; the fig trees and the grapevines have grown much fruit.

23 So be happy, people of Jerusalem; be joyful in the Lord your God. Because he does what is right, he has brought you rain; he has sent the fall rain and the spring rain for you, as before.

24 And the threshing floors will be full of grain; the barrels will overflow with new wine and olive oil.

25 "Though I sent my great army against you -- those swarming locusts and hopping locusts, the destroying locusts and the cutting locustsn that ate your crops -- I will pay you back for those years of trouble.

26 Then you will have plenty to eat and be full. You will praise the name of the Lord your God, who has done miracles for you. My people will never again be shamed.

27 Then you will know that I am among the people of Israel, that I am the Lord your God, and there is no other God. My people will never be shamed again.

28 "After this, I will pour out my Spirit on all kinds of people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions.

29 At that time I will pour out my Spirit also on male slaves and female slaves.

30 I will show miracles in the sky and on the earth: blood, fire, and thick smoke.

31 The sun will become dark, the moon red as blood, before the overwhelming and terrible day of the Lord comes.

32 Then anyone who calls on the Lord will be saved, because on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be people who will be saved, just as the Lord has said. Those left alive after the day of punishment are the people whom the Lord called.

Good News Translation GNT

1 Blow the trumpet; sound the alarm on Zion, God's sacred hill. Tremble, people of Judah! The day of the Lord is coming soon.

2 It will be a dark and gloomy day, a black and cloudy day. The great army of locusts advances like darkness spreading over the mountains. There has never been anything like it, and there never will be again.

3 Like fire they eat up the plants. In front of them the land is like the Garden of Eden, but behind them it is a barren desert. Nothing escapes them.

4 They look like horses; they run like war-horses.

5 As they leap on the tops of the mountains, they rattle like chariots; they crackle like dry grass on fire. They are lined up like a great army ready for battle.

6 As they approach, everyone is terrified; every face turns pale.

7 They attack like warriors; they climb the walls like soldiers. They all keep marching straight ahead and do not change direction

8 or get in each other's way. They swarm through defenses, and nothing can stop them.

9 They rush against the city; they run over the walls; they climb up the houses and go in through the windows like thieves.

10 The earth shakes as they advance; the sky trembles. The sun and the moon grow dark, and the stars no longer shine.

11 The Lord thunders commands to his army. The troops that obey him are many and mighty. How terrible is the day of the Lord! Who will survive it?

12 "But even now," says the Lord, "repent sincerely and return to me with fasting and weeping and mourning.

13 Let your broken heart show your sorrow; tearing your clothes is not enough." Come back to the Lord your God. He is kind and full of mercy; he is patient and keeps his promise; he is always ready to forgive and not punish.

14 Perhaps the Lord your God will change his mind and bless you with abundant crops. Then you can offer him grain and wine.

15 Blow the trumpet on Mount Zion; give orders for a fast and call an assembly!

16 Gather the people together; prepare them for a sacred meeting; bring the old people; gather the children and the babies too. Even newly married couples must leave their homes and come.

17 The priests, serving the Lord between the altar and the entrance of the Temple, must weep and pray: "Have pity on your people, Lord. Do not let other nations despise us and mock us by saying, "Where is your God?' "

18 Then the Lord showed concern for his land; he had mercy on his people.

19 He answered them: "Now I am going to give you grain and wine and olive oil, and you will be satisfied. Other nations will no longer despise you.

20 I will remove the locust army that came from the north and will drive some of them into the desert. Their front ranks will be driven into the Dead Sea, their rear ranks into the Mediterranean. Their dead bodies will stink. I will destroy them because of all they have done to you.

21 "Fields, don't be afraid, but be joyful and glad because of all the Lord has done for you.

22 Animals, don't be afraid. The pastures are green; the trees bear their fruit, and there are plenty of figs and grapes.

23 "Be glad, people of Zion, rejoice at what the Lord your God has done for you. He has given you the right amount of autumn rain; he has poured down the winter rain for you and the spring rain as before.

24 The threshing places will be full of grain; the pits beside the presses will overflow with wine and olive oil.

25 I will give you back what you lost in the years when swarms of locusts ate your crops. It was I who sent this army against you.

26 Now you will have plenty to eat, and be satisfied. You will praise the Lord your God, who has done wonderful things for you. My people will never be despised again.

27 Then, Israel, you will know that I am among you and that I, the Lord, am your God and there is no other. My people will never be despised again.

28 "Afterward I will pour out my Spirit on everyone: your sons and daughters will proclaim my message; your old people will have dreams, and your young people will see visions.

29 At that time I will pour out my Spirit even on servants, both men and women.

30 "I will give warnings of that day in the sky and on the earth; there will be bloodshed, fire, and clouds of smoke.

31 The sun will be darkened, and the moon will turn red as blood before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes.

32 But all who ask the Lord for help will be saved. As the Lord has said, "Some in Jerusalem will escape; those whom I choose will survive.' "