This is the word of the LORD, that came to Joel the son of Pethuel:

Make thy moan as a virgin doth that girdeth herself with sack, because of her bridegroom.

The husbandmen and the wine gardeners shall look piteously, and make lamentation for the wheat, wine and barley; and because the harvest upon the field is so clean destroyed.

Alas, alas for this day. And why? the day of the LORD is at hand, and cometh as a destroyer from the Almighty.

Blow out the trumpet in Zion, and cry upon my holy hill: that all such as dwell in the land, may tremble at it. For the day of the LORD cometh, and is hard at hand:

a dark and gloomy day, a cloudy and black day. As the morning is spread over the mountains, so it this populous and strong people: such as have not been since the beginning, neither shall be after them for evermore.

Before him shall be a consuming fire, and behind him a burning flame. The land shall be as a garden of pleasure before him, but behind him shall it be a very waste wilderness, and there is no man, that shall escape him.

They skipped up upon the hills, as it were the sound of chariots; as the flame of fire that consumeth the straw, and as a mighty people ready to the battle.

The folk shall be afraid of him, all faces shall be as black as a pot.

The LORD shall show his voice before his host, for his host is great, strong and mighty to fulfill his commandment. This is that great and marvelous fearful day of the LORD: And who is able to abide it?

And tear your hearts and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God. For he is full of mercy and compassion, long ere he be angry, and great in mercy and repentance when he is at the point to punish.

Let the priests that minister unto the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and say, "Spare, Lord, thy people: and deliver not thine heritage unto rebuke that the heathen should reign over them. Why should they say among the nations, 'Where is their God?'"

Again, as for him of the North, I shall drive him far from you: and shoot him out into a dry and waste land, his face toward the east sea, and his hinder parts toward the utmost sea. The stink of him shall go up, and his filthy corruption shall fall upon himself, because he hath dealt so proudly."

Children of Zion, be glad and rejoice in the LORD your God. For he hath given you a teacher of righteousness, and will make descend unto you the first rain and the later, as at the beginning.

And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and that there is no more. And my people shall not be in shame forever.

And the time shall come: that whosoever calleth upon the name of the LORD, shall be saved. For upon the mount Zion and at Jerusalem, there shall be a salvation, like as the LORD hath promised. Yea, and among the other remnant, whom the LORD shall call.

Lay to your scythes, for the harvest is ripe. Come, get you down: the winepress is full, yea the winepresses run over, for their wickedness is waxen great.

In the valley appointed, there shall be many, many people: for the day of the LORD is nigh in the valley appointed.