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2:1  Sound the trumpet on Zion, the Lord's sacred hill. Warn everyone to tremble! The judgment day of the Lord is coming soon.
2:2  It will be dark and gloomy with storm clouds overhead. Troops will cover the mountains like thunderclouds. No army this powerful has ever been gathered before or will be gathered again.
2:3  Fiery flames surround them; no one escapes. Before they invaded, the land was like Eden; now only a desert remains.
2:4  They look like horses and charge like cavalry.
2:5  They roar over mountains like noisy chariots, or a mighty army ready for battle. They are a forest fire that feasts on straw.
2:6  The very sight of them is frightening.
2:7  They climb over walls like warriors; they march in columns and never turn aside.
2:8  They charge straight ahead, without pushing each other; even arrows and spears cannot make them retreat.
2:9  They swarm over city walls and enter our homes; they crawl in through windows, just like thieves.
2:10  They make the earth tremble and the heavens shake; the sun and moon turn dark, and stars stop shining.
2:11  The Lord God leads this army of countless troops, and they obey his commands. The day of his judgment is so terrible that no one can stand it.
2:12  The Lord said: It isn't too late. You can still return to me with all your heart. Start crying and mourning! Go without eating.
2:13  Don't rip your clothes to show your sorrow. Instead, turn back to me with broken hearts. I am merciful, kind, and caring. I don't easily lose my temper, and I don't like to punish.
2:14  I am the Lord your God. Perhaps I will change my mind and treat you with mercy. Then you will be blessed with enough grain and wine for offering sacrifices to me.
2:15  Sound the trumpet on Zion! Call the people together. Show your sorrow by going without food.
2:16  Make sure that everyone is fit to worship me. Bring adults, children, babies, and even bring newlyweds from their festivities.
2:17  Tell my servants, the priests, to cry inside the temple and to offer this prayer near the altar: “Save your people, Lord God! Don't let foreign nations make jokes about us. Don't let them laugh and ask, ‘Where is your God?’ ”
2:18  The Lord was deeply concerned about his land and had pity on his people.
2:19  In answer to their prayers he said, “I will give you enough grain, wine, and olive oil to satisfy your needs. No longer will I let you be insulted by the nations.
2:20  An army attacked from the north, but I will chase it into a scorching desert. There it will rot and stink from the Dead Sea to the Mediterranean.” The Lord works wonders
2:21  and does great things. So tell the soil to celebrate
2:22  and wild animals to stop being afraid. Grasslands are green again; fruit trees and fig trees are loaded with fruit. Grapevines are covered with grapes.
2:23  People of Zion, celebrate in honor of the Lord your God! He is generous and has sent the autumn and spring rains in the proper seasons.
2:24  Grain will cover your threshing places; jars will overflow with wine and olive oil.
2:25  I, the Lord your God, will make up for the losses caused by those swarms and swarms of locusts I sent to attack you.
2:26  My people, you will eat until you are satisfied. Then you will praise me for the wonderful things I have done. Never again will you be put to shame.
2:27  Israel, you will know that I stand at your side. I am the Lord your God— there are no other gods. Never again will you be put to shame.
2:28  Later, I will give my Spirit to everyone. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will have dreams, and your young men will see visions.
2:29  In those days I will even give my Spirit to my servants, both men and women.
2:30  I will work wonders in the sky above and on the earth below. There will be blood and fire and clouds of smoke.
2:31  The sun will turn dark, and the moon will be as red as blood before that great and terrible day when I appear.
2:32  Then I, the Lord will save everyone who faithfully worships me. I have promised there will be survivors on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and among them will be my chosen ones.