Self-interpreting Bible

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Joel 2

1The prophet describeth the locusts as a mighty army led by God to destroy the land: 12he exhorteth to repentance, 15prescribeth a general fast and humiliation, 18and promiseth mercy from God: 21he comforteth Zion with present blessings, 28and prophesieth the effusion of the holy Spirit, and other blessings of the gospel.

1 aBLOW ye the 1trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in bmy holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for cthe day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;

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

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

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

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.

    6 Before their lface the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather 3blackness.

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

    8 oNeither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the 4sword, they shall not be wounded.

    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 pin at the windows like a thief.

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

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

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

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

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

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

    16 Gather the people, esanctify the congregation, fassemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: glet the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her *closet.

    17 hLet the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep ibetween the porch and the altar, and jlet them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should 5rule over them: kwherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?

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

    19 Yea, the LORD mwill answer and say unto his people, nBehold, I will send you ocorn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen:

    20 But I will remove far off from you pthe northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward qthe east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because 6he hath done great things.

    21 ¶rFear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD 7will do great things.

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

    23 uBe glad then, ye children of Zion, and vrejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you 8the former rain 9moderately, and whe will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain xin the first month.

    24 And ythe floors shall be full of wheat, and zthe fats shall overflow with wine and oil.

    25 And aI 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.

    26 And bye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath cdealt wondrously with you: and dmy people shall never ebe ashamed.

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

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

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

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

    31 The msun shall be turned into darkness, and the nmoon into blood, obefore the great and pthe terrible day of the LORD come.

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