Joel 2:12-27

“But it’s not too late,” declares YAHWEH. “Come back to me now with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Tearing your clothes in sorrow is not enough— tear open your hearts!” Come back to YAHWEH your God, for he is gracious to welcome you home and compassionate to embrace you. YAHWEH is slow to anger and so rich in extravagant love for you. He is always ready to forgive and cancel judgment. Who knows if he will not turn around and show pity, leaving behind a blessing. Then you can bring offerings of grain and wine to be presented to YAHWEH your God. Blow the shofar in Zion! Call for a fast and proclaim a solemn assembly. Gather the people together, and prepare them for a sacred meeting. From the oldest to the youngest, assemble the community, even the nursing infants. Let the newly wedded bride and bridegroom come from their chamber. 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. You will eat to your heart’s content and be satisfied. You will gloriously praise the name of YAHWEH your God, who has treated you so wonderfully. And never will my people be despised again. Then, Israel, you will know without question that I am dwelling among you. I am YAHWEH your God, and no one else. I say again: no more will I surrender my people to shame.”