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¹ Blow the horn in Zion;^(C1)2 a day of darkness and gloom,^(C1)
a day of clouds and total darkness,^(C2)
like the dawn spreading over the mountains;
a great and strong people^(C3) appears,
such as never existed in ages past^(C4)
and never will again
in all the generations to come.^(C5)

³ A fire devours in front of them,^(C1)
and behind them a flame blazes.
The land in front of them
is like the garden of Eden,^(C2)
but behind them,
it is like a desert wasteland;^(C3)
there is no escape from them.⁴ Their appearance is like that of horses,^(C1)
and they gallop like war horses.⁵ They bound on the tops of the mountains.
Their sound is like the sound of chariots,^(C1)
like the sound of fiery flames consuming stubble,^(C2)
like a mighty army deployed for war.

⁶ Nations writhe in horror before them;^(C1)
all faces turn pale.⁷ They attack as warriors attack;
they scale walls as men of war do.
Each goes on his own path,^(C1)
and they do not change their course.⁸ They do not push each other;
each proceeds on his own path.
They dodge the arrows, never stopping.⁹ They storm the city;
they run on the wall;
they climb into the houses;^(C1)
they enter through the windows like thieves.^(C2)

¹⁰ The earth quakes before them;^(C1)
the sky shakes.
The sun and moon grow dark,^(C2)
and the stars cease their shining.^(C3)11 The Lord makes his voice heard^(C1)
in the presence of his army.^(C2)
His camp is very large;
those who carry out his command are powerful.^(C3)
Indeed, the day of the Lord is terrible and dreadful^(C4)—
who can endure it?^(C5)

¹⁵ Blow the horn in Zion!^(C1)
Announce a sacred fast;^(C2)
proclaim an assembly.¹⁶ Gather the people;
sanctify the congregation;^(C1)
assemble the aged;^(F1)(C2)
gather the infants,
even babies nursing at the breast.
Let the groom leave his bedroom,^(C3)
and the bride her honeymoon chamber.¹⁷ Let the priests,^(C1) the Lord’s ministers,
weep between the portico and the altar.^(C2)
Let them say:
“Have pity on your people, Lord,^(C3)
and do not make your inheritance a disgrace,^(C4)
an object of scorn among the nations.
Why should it be said among the peoples,
‘Where is their God?’” ^(C5)

²⁰ I will drive the northerner far from you^(C1)
and banish him to a dry and desolate land,
his front ranks into the Dead Sea,^(C2)
and his rear guard into the Mediterranean Sea.^(C3)
His stench will rise;
yes, his rotten smell will rise,^(C4)
for he has done astonishing things.

²¹ Don’t be afraid, land;^(C1)
rejoice and be glad,
for the Lord has done astonishing things.^(C2)22 Don’t be afraid, wild animals,
for the wilderness pastures have turned green,^(C1)
the trees bear their fruit,
and the fig tree and grapevine yield their riches.²³ Children of Zion,^(C1) rejoice and be glad
in the Lord your God,^(C2)
because he gives you the autumn rain
for your vindication.^(F1)(C3)
He sends showers for you,
both autumn and spring rain^(C4) as before.²⁴ The threshing floors will be full of grain,^(C1)
and the vats will overflow
with new wine and fresh oil.

²⁵ I will repay you for the years
that the swarming locust ate,^(C1)
the young locust, the destroying locust,
and the devouring locust—
my great army that I sent against you.²⁶ You will have plenty to eat and be satisfied.^(C1)
You will praise the name of the Lord your God,^(C2)
who has dealt wondrously with you.^(C3)
My people will never again be put to shame.^(C4)27 You will know that I am present in Israel^(C1)
and that I am the Lord your God,
and there is no other.^(C2)
My people will never again be put to shame.^(C3)