9. They rush upon the city;they run along the wall.They climb into the houses;like thieves they enter through the windows.
10. Before them the earth shakes,the heavens tremble,the sun and moon are darkened,and the stars no longer shine.
11. The Lord thundersat the head of his army;his forces are beyond number,and mighty is the army that obeys his command.The day of the Lord is great;it is dreadful.Who can endure it?
12. ‘Even now,’ declares the Lord,‘return to me with all your heart,with fasting and weeping and mourning.’
13. Rend your heartand not your garments.Return to the Lord your God,for he is gracious and compassionate,slow to anger and abounding in love,and he relents from sending calamity.
14. Who knows? He may turn and relentand leave behind a blessing –grain offerings and drink offeringsfor the Lord your God.
15. Blow the trumpet in Zion,declare a holy fast,call a sacred assembly.
16. Gather the people,consecrate the assembly;bring together the elders,gather the children,those nursing at the breast.Let the bridegroom leave his roomand the bride her chamber.
17. Let the priests, who minister before the Lord,weep between the portico and the altar.Let them say, ‘Spare your people, Lord.Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn,a byword among the nations.Why should they say among the peoples,“Where is their God?” ’
18. Then the Lord was jealous for his landand took pity on his people.
19. The Lord replied to them:‘I am sending you grain, new wine and olive oil,enough to satisfy you fully;never again will I make youan object of scorn to the nations.
20. ‘I will drive the northern horde far from you,pushing it into a parched and barren land;its eastern ranks will drown in the Dead Seaand its western ranks in the Mediterranean Sea.And its stench will go up;its smell will rise.’Surely he has done great things!
21. Do not be afraid, land of Judah;be glad and rejoice.Surely the Lord has done great things!
22. Do not be afraid, you wild animals,for the pastures in the wilderness are becoming green.The trees are bearing their fruit;the fig-tree and the vine yield their riches.
23. Be glad, people of Zion,rejoice in the Lord your God,for he has given you the autumn rainsbecause he is faithful.He sends you abundant showers,both autumn and spring rains, as before.