4. Their appearance is like the appearance of horses,and like war horses they run.
5. As with the rumbling of chariots,they leap on the tops of the mountains,like the crackling of a flame of firedevouring the stubble, like a powerful armydrawn up for battle.
6. Before them peoples are in anguish; all faces grow pale.
7. Like warriors they charge;like soldiers they scale the wall.They march each on his way;they do not swerve from their paths.
8. They do not jostle one another; each marches in his path;they burst through the weaponsand are not halted.
9. They leap upon the city,they run upon the walls, they climb up into the houses, they enter through the windows like a thief.
10. The earth quakes before them;the heavens tremble. The sun and the moon are darkened,and the stars withdraw their shining.
11. The Lord utters his voicebefore his army,for his camp is exceedingly great; he who executes his word is powerful. For the day of the Lord is great and very awesome; who can endure it?
12. “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
13. and rend your hearts and not your garments.”Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful,slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.
14. Who knows whether he will not turn and relent,and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offeringfor the Lord your God?
15. Blow the trumpet in Zion; consecrate a fast;call a solemn assembly;