rsv Joel:2:11-25 SEEK
Seeker Overlay ON
*
The LORD utters his voice before his army ,
for his host is exceedingly great ;
he that executes his word is powerful .
For the day of the LORD is great and very terrible ;
who can endure it ?
* "
Yet even now ,"
says the LORD , "
return to me with all your heart ,
with fasting ,
with weeping ,
and with mourning ;
*
and rend your hearts and not your garments ."
Return to the LORD ,
your God ,
for he is gracious and merciful ,
slow to anger ,
and abounding in steadfast love ,
and repents of evil .
*
Who knows whether he will not turn and repent ,
and leave a blessing behind him ,
a cereal offering and a drink offering for the LORD ,
your God ?
*
Blow the trumpet in Zion ;
sanctify a fast ;
call a solemn assembly ;
*
gather the people .
Sanctify the congregation ;
assemble the elders ;
gather the children ,
even nursing infants .
Let the bridegroom leave his room ,
and the bride her chamber .
*
Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests ,
the ministers of the LORD ,
weep and say , "
Spare thy people ,
O LORD ,
and make not thy heritage a reproach ,
a byword among the nations .
Why should they say among the peoples , `
Where is their God ?'"
*
Then the LORD became jealous for his land ,
and had pity on his people .
*
The LORD answered and said to his people , "
Behold ,
I am sending to you grain ,
wine ,
and oil ,
and you will be satisfied ;
and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations .
* "
I will remove the northerner far from you ,
and drive him into a parched and desolate land ,
his front into the eastern sea ,
and his rear into the western sea ;
the stench and foul smell of him will rise ,
for he has done great things .
* "
Fear not ,
O land ;
be glad and rejoice ,
for the LORD has done great things !
*
Fear not ,
you beasts of the field ,
for the pastures of the wilderness are green ;
the tree bears its fruit ,
the fig tree and vine give their full yield .
* "
Be glad ,
O sons of Zion ,
and rejoice in the LORD ,
your God ;
for he has given the early rain for your vindication ,
he has poured down for you abundant rain ,
the early and the latter rain ,
as before .
* "
The threshing floors shall be full of grain ,
the vats shall overflow with wine and oil .
*
I will restore to you the years which the swarming locust has eaten ,
the hopper ,
the destroyer ,
and the cutter ,
my great army ,
which I sent among you .