Joel

Predicts a locust plague and future blessings, calling for repentance.

Chapter 2

1 Blow ye the trumpet 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 nigh at hand;

*Blow the horn in Zion and warn everyone on God's holy mountain. Everyone living in the land should be scared, because the Day of the Lord is coming soon.

2 A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.

*A dark and gloomy day with cloudy skies and thick darkness, like morning on mountains. A huge, powerful crowd was there - never seen before or again in many generations.

3 A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.

*A fire burns in front of them, and a flame burns behind; the land is like the Garden of Eden in front, but a barren wasteland behind; nothing can escape them.

4 The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run.

*They look like horses and run like horsemen.

5 Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.

*They will jump like the sound of chariots on mountain peaks. It will be as loud as a fire consuming straw. They will be like a powerful army ready for battle.

6 Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness.

*Before them, the people will suffer greatly: everyone's face will turn dark.

7 They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks:

*They will sprint like strong people; they will scale walls like warriors; each one will follow their path without breaking formation.

8 Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.

*No one will push another; they'll each follow their own way: and when they fight with swords, they won't get hurt.

9 They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.

*People will quickly move around the city, running on walls and climbing houses. They'll sneak in through windows like a thief.

10 The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:

*The ground will shake when they arrive; the sky will tremble: the sun and moon will grow dark, and the stars will hide their light.

11 And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?

*And the LORD will speak to his large army, because he is powerful in carrying out his plans. The day of the LORD is huge and extremely scary, and who can endure it?

12 Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:

*So now, says the Lord, turn back to me completely with your heart, and with fasting, and crying, and sadness.

13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

*Tear your heart, not just your clothes, and return to the kind and forgiving God: He's patient, full of love, and hates causing harm.

14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?

*Who knows if he will come back and change his ways, leaving a blessing for you; like food and drink offerings to your God?

15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:

*Blow the horn in Jerusalem, set apart a day of fasting, gather for a serious meeting.

16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.

*Bring everyone together, make the group holy, get the older people, bring the kids and nursing mothers - let the groom leave his room and the bride leave her private space.

17 Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?

*Let the priests cry near the entrance and the altar, asking God to save his people. They shouldn't let God's special land be made fun of, so others don't take control. Why would people ask, "Where is their God?"

18 Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people.

*Then, the LORD will be angry for his land and feel sorry for his people.

19 Yea, the LORD will answer and say 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 heathen:

*Yes, God will reply to his people, saying, "I will provide you with food like grain, wine, and oil. You will have enough. I won't embarrass you anymore in front of other nations."

20 But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things.

*But I will get rid of the northern army far away from you and send them to a dry and empty land. They'll face the east sea and their back will be toward the farthest sea. Their bad smell and unpleasant odor will rise because they have done terrible things.

21 Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things.

*Don't worry, country; be happy and celebrate: because the Lord will do amazing things.

22 Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength.

*Don't be scared, animals in the fields: the wild plants are growing, trees have fruit, even fig trees and vines are strong.

23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.

*Rejoice, children of Zion! Be happy because your God is kind. He has given you just the right amount of rain and will give you even more - both the first and the second rain - in the first month.

24 And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.

*The floors will have lots of wheat, and the containers will be very full of wine and oil.

25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.

*I will give back the years the bugs took away - locusts, cankerworms, caterpillars, and palmerworms, all part of my big army that I sent to you.

26 And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.

*You will have more than enough to eat and feel full. You will thank the name of God for being so amazing in helping you. My people will always feel proud.

27 And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.

*You will understand that I am with Israel and I am your God, and there is no other; your people will always feel proud.

28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

*Afterward, I will give my Spirit to everyone. Your children and yours will speak prophecies. Your elderly will have dreams. Your young ones will see special pictures.

29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.

*In those days, I will give my Spirit to the servants and the maids.

30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.

*I will display amazing events in the sky and on the ground, with blood, fire, and columns of smoke.

31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.

*The sun will go dark, and the moon will turn red before a huge, scary day of God arrives.

32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

*If someone calls on the LORD, they will be saved. This will happen in both Mount Zion and Jerusalem, just like the LORD promised, and it will also happen for those in the remaining people the LORD chooses to call.

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