1 Blow [the] trumpet in Zion, and sound the alarm on {my holy mountain}! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of Yahweh [is] coming --[it is] indeed near. 2 A day of darkness and gloom, a day of cloud and thick darkness, like the dawn spreads on the mountains, a great and strong army! There has been nothing like it from old, and after it nothing will be again {for generations to come}.
3 {Before them} a fire devours, and behind them a flame burns. Like the garden of Eden is the land {before them}, and after them [it is like] a desolate desert, and nothing can escape them. 4 Like [the] appearance of horses is their appearance, and like horsemen they run; 5 like [the] sound of chariots on the tops of the mountains, they leap about; like [the] sound of a flame of fire devouring stubble; like a strong army arranged in rows [for] battle.
6 {From before them} nations writhe, all faces {turn pale}. 7 They run like mighty warriors, they scale the wall like men of war; each goes on its own way, and they do not swerve [from] their paths. 8 They do not jostle {one another}; each goes on its own trail; and through the falling weapons, they are not halted. 9 In the city they rush forth; on the walls they run. Into the houses they climb up; through the windows they enter like thief.
10 {Before them} [the] earth quakes; [the] heavens tremble; [the] sun and [the] moon grow dark, and [the] stars {have withheld} their splendor 11 And Yahweh {utters} his voice before his army, because his encampment [is] very large; strong [is the] one who carries out his decree, for great [is] the day of Yahweh and exceedingly fearful. Who can endure it?
12 "And even now," {declares} Yahweh, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting, and weeping, and wailing." 13 Rend your hearts and not your garments, and return to Yahweh your God, because he [is] gracious and compassionate, {slow to anger} and great in loyal love, and relenting from harm. 14 Who knows [whether] he will turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, an offering and a libation, for Yahweh your God?
15 Blow [the] trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call an assembly; 16 gather [the] people, consecrate [the] assembly; assemble [the] elders, gather [the] children, even those [who are] breast-feeding; let [the] bridegroom come out from his private room, and [the] bride from her canopy. 17 Between the colonnade and the altar, let the priests, the ministers of Yahweh, weep. And let them say, "Take pity, Yahweh, on your people. Do not make your inheritance a reproach, a byword among [the] nations. Why should they say among the nations, 'Where [is] their God?'"
18 Then Yahweh became jealous for his land and took pity on his people. 19 And Yahweh answered and said to his people, "Look at me, [I am] sending to you grain, new wine, and olive oil, and you will be satisfied by it. I will not give you [over] any more as a disgrace among the nations.
20 {The northerners} I will remove from you; I will drive them to a desert and desolate land, its front to the eastern sea, and its rear into the western sea; its stench and odor will rise up because he has done great things.
21 Do not fear, land, rejoice and be glad, because Yahweh has done great things. 22 Do not fear, wild animals of [the] field, because [the] pastures of [the] desert have put forth new green shoots, because [the] tree has produced its fruit, [the] fig tree and [the] vine have yielded their produce. 23 Be glad, children of Zion, be glad and rejoice in Yahweh your God, because he has given for you the autumn rains for [your] righteousness, and he has {poured down} for you rainwater, [the] autumn and spring rains, as before. 24 The threshing floors will be full [with] grain, and the vats will overflow [with] new wine and olive oil.
25 I will repay you the years that the locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my mighty troops that I sent against you. 26 And you will eat abundantly and be satisfied, and praise the name of Yahweh your God, who has dealt with you {wondrously}. My people {will never be ashamed}. 27 And you will know that I [am] in the midst of Israel, and I [am] Yahweh, your God, and there is no [other]. My people {will never be ashamed again}.
28 And it will happen afterward thus: I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters will prophesy, and your elders will dream dreams; your young men shall see visions. 29 And also on the male slaves and on the female slaves, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. 30 And I will {set} wonders in the heavens, and on earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. 31 The sun will be changed to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of Yahweh. 32 And it will happen--everyone who calls on the name of Yahweh will be rescued, because on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be {those who escape}, as Yahweh said, and among the survivors whom Yahweh is calling.