1. Sound the trumpet on Zion,the Lord's sacred hill.Warn everyone to tremble!The judgment day of the Lordis coming soon.
2. It will be dark and gloomywith storm clouds overhead.Troops will cover the mountainslike thunderclouds.No army this powerfulhas ever been gathered beforeor will ever be again.
3. Fiery flames surround them;no one escapes.Before they invaded,the land was like Eden;now only a desert remains.
4. They look like horsesand charge like cavalry.
5. They roar over mountainslike noisy chariots,or a mighty armyready for battle.They are a forest firethat feasts on straw.
6. The very sight of themis frightening.
7. They climb over wallslike warriors;they march in columnsand never turn aside.
8. They charge straight ahead,without pushing each other;even arrows and spearscannot make them retreat.
9. They swarm over city wallsand enter our homes;they crawl in through windows,just like thieves.
10. They make the earth trembleand the heavens shake;the sun and moon turn dark,and stars stop shining.
11. The Lord God leads this armyof countless troops,and they obey his commands.The day of his judgmentis so terriblethat no one can stand it.
12. The Lord said:It isn't too late.You can still return to mewith all your heart.Start crying and mourning!Go without eating.
13. Don't rip your clothesto show your sorrow.Instead, turn back to mewith broken hearts.I am merciful, kind, and caring.I don't easily lose my temper,and I don't like to punish.
14. I am the Lord your God.Perhaps I will change my mindand treat you with mercy.Then you will be blessedwith enough grain and winefor offering sacrifices to me.
15. Sound the trumpet on Zion!Call the people together.Show your sorrowby going without food.
16. Make sure that everyoneis fit to worship me.Bring adults, children, babies,and even bring newlywedsfrom their festivities.
17. Tell my servants, the priests,to cry inside the templeand to offer this prayernear the altar:“Save your people, Lord God!Don't let foreign nationsmake jokes about us.Don't let them laugh and ask,‘Where is your God?’ ”
18. The Lord was deeply concernedabout his landand had pity on his people.
19. In answer to their prayershe said,“I will give you enough grain,wine, and olive oilto satisfy your needs.No longer will I let yoube insulted by the nations.
20. An army attacked from the north,but I will chase itinto a scorching desert.There it will rot and stinkfrom the Dead Seato the Mediterranean.”The Lord works wonders
21. and does great things.So tell the soil to celebrate
22. and wild animalsto stop being afraid.Grasslands are green again;fruit trees and fig treesare loaded with fruit.Grapevines are coveredwith grapes.
23. People of Zion,celebrate in honourof the Lord your God!He is generous and has sentthe autumn and spring rainsin the proper seasons.
24. Grain will coveryour threshing places;jars will overflowwith wine and olive oil.
25. I, the Lord your God,will make up for the lossescaused by those swarmsand swarms of locustsI sent to attack you.
26. My people, you will eatuntil you are satisfied.Then you will praise mefor the wonderful thingsI have done.Never again will yoube put to shame.
27. Israel, you will knowthat I stand at your side.I am the Lord your God—there are no other gods.Never again will yoube put to shame.
28. Later, I will give my Spiritto everyone.Your sons and daughterswill prophesy.Your old menwill have dreams,and your young menwill see visions.
29. In those days I will even givemy Spirit to my servants,both men and women.
30. I will work wondersin the sky aboveand on the earth below.There will be blood and fireand clouds of smoke.
31. The sun will turn dark,and the moonwill be as red as bloodbefore that greatand terrible daywhen I appear.
32. Then the Lord will save everyone who faithfully worships him. He has promised there will be survivors on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and among them will be his chosen ones.