Joel 2:17-25

With everyone gathered in the courtyard, the priests, the ministers of YAHWEH, must stand weeping between the portico and the altar of burnt offering. Let them face the sanctuary and intercede, saying, “Spare your people! Have pity, YAHWEH! Do not expose your very own people to the contempt and sarcasm of the nations. Why give the nations cause to say, ‘Where is their God now?’ ” YAHWEH Then YAHWEH showed his great love for the land and showered compassion upon his people. YAHWEH answered their cry and said, “Behold, now your fast is over. I am providing you with plenty of wheat, wine, and olive oil until you are satisfied. Never again will I make you an object of scorn among the nations. I will remove your northern enemy far from you and drive him into a dry, desolate land, with his front ranks to the Dead Sea and his rear guard to the Mediterranean Sea. I will destroy them for their boastful deeds, and people will smell the stench of their dead bodies.” Truly, he has done great things! My land, do not fear, for your restoration has come! Be glad and rejoice, you people, for YAHWEH has done marvelous things for you. Animals of the field, do not be afraid, for the pastures of the wilderness are green again, the trees bear their fruit, and the vine and fig tree yield their richness. Children of Zion, be glad! Celebrate the mighty acts of YAHWEH your God, for he has given you a teacher of righteousness whose teaching is like the refreshing spring rains. And he will pour down the rains for you, the spring and autumn rains as before. YAHWEH “The threshing floors will be full of grain, the pits beside the presses will overflow with new wine and fresh oil. I will make up for the years the swarms of locusts ruined your harvest— the hopping-locusts, the destroying-locusts, and the cutting-locusts— my great army that I sent against you.