Dual PanelLocusts and an enemy army
1Sound the trumpet on Zion, the Lord's sacred hill. Warn everyone to tremble! The judgment day of the Lord is coming soon.
2It 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 ever be again.
3Fiery flames surround them; no one escapes. Before they invaded, the land was like Eden; now only a desert remains.
4They look like horses and charge like cavalry.
5They roar over mountains like noisy chariots, or a mighty army ready for battle. They are a forest fire that feasts on straw.
6The very sight of them is frightening.
7They climb over walls like warriors; they march in columns and never turn aside.
8They charge straight ahead, without pushing each other; even arrows and spears cannot make them retreat.
9They swarm over city walls and enter our homes; they crawl in through windows, just like thieves.
10They make the earth tremble and the heavens shake; the sun and moon turn dark, and stars stop shining.
11The 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.
The Lord's invitation
12The Lord said: It isn't too late. You can still return to me with all your heart. Start crying and mourning! Go without eating.
13Don'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.
14I 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.
15Sound the trumpet on Zion! Call the people together. Show your sorrow by going without food.
16Make sure that everyone is fit to worship me. Bring adults, children, babies, and even bring newlyweds from their festivities.
17Tell 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?’ ”
The Lord will bless the land
18 The Lord was deeply concerned about his land and had pity on his people.
19In 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.
20An 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
21and does great things. So tell the soil to celebrate
22and wild animals to stop being afraid. Grasslands are green again; fruit trees and fig trees are loaded with fruit. Grapevines are covered with grapes.
23People of Zion, celebrate in honour of the Lord your God! He is generous and has sent the autumn and spring rains in the proper seasons.
24Grain will cover your threshing places; jars will overflow with wine and olive oil.
The Lord will rescue his people
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.
26My 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.
27Israel, 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.
The Lord will work wonders
28The Lord said: 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.
29In those days I will even give my Spirit to my servants, both men and women.
30I will work wonders in the sky above and on the earth below. There will be blood and fire and clouds of smoke.
31The sun will turn dark, and the moon will be as red as blood before that great and terrible day when I appear.
32Then 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.