11. because the Lord utters his voiceat the head of his army.How numerous are his troops!Mighty are those who obey his word.The day of the Lord is great;it stirs up great fear—who can endure it?
12. Yet even now, says the Lord,return to me with all your hearts,with fasting, with weeping, and with sorrow;
13. tear your heartsand not your clothing.Return to the Lord your God,for he is merciful and compassionate,very patient, full of faithful love,and ready to forgive.
14. Who knows whether he will have a change of heartand leave a blessing behind him,a grain offering and a drink offeringfor the Lord your God?
15. Blow the horn in Zion;demand a fast;request a special assembly.
16. Gather the people;prepare a holy meeting;assemble the elders;gather the children,even nursing infants.Let the groom leave his roomand the bride her chamber.
17. Between the porch and the altarlet the priests, the Lord’s ministers, weep.Let them say, "Have mercy, Lord, on your people,and don’t make your inheritance a disgrace,an example of failure among the nations.Why should they say among the peoples,‘Where is their God?’"
18. Then the Lord became passionate about this land, and had pity on his people.
19. The Lord responded to the people:See, I am sending youthe corn, new wine, and fresh oil,and you will be fully satisfied by it;and I will no longer make youa disgrace among the nations.
20. I will remove the northern army far from youand drive it into a dried-up and desolate land,its front into the eastern sea,and its rear into the western sea.Its stench will rise up;its stink will come to the surface.The Lord is about to do great things!
21. Don’t fear, fertile land;rejoice and be glad,for the Lord is about to do great things!
22. Don’t be afraid, animals of the field,for the meadows of the wilderness will turn green;the tree will bear its fruit;the fig tree and grapevine will give their full yield.
23. Children of Zion,rejoice and be glad in the Lord your God,because he will give you the early rain as a sign of righteousness;he will pour down abundant rain for you,the early and the late rain, as before.
24. The threshing floors will be full of grain;the vats will overflow with new wine and fresh oil.