2:11 The voice of the Lord thunders ¹  as he leads his army. ² 

Indeed, his warriors ³  are innumerable; ⁴ 

Surely his command is carried out! ⁵ 

Yes, the day of the Lord is awesome ⁶ 

and very terrifying – who can survive ⁷  it?

2:12 “Yet even now,” the Lord says,

“return to me with all your heart –

with fasting, weeping, and mourning.

Tear your hearts, ⁸ 

not just your garments!”

2:13 Return to the Lord your God,

for he is merciful and compassionate,

slow to anger and boundless in loyal love ⁹  – often relenting from calamitous punishment. ¹⁰ 

2:14 Who knows?

Perhaps he will be compassionate and grant a reprieve, ¹¹ 

and leave blessing in his wake ¹²  –

a meal offering and a drink offering for you to offer to the Lord your God! ¹³ 

2:15 Blow the trumpet ¹⁴  in Zion.

Announce a holy fast;

proclaim a sacred assembly!

2:16 Gather the people;

sanctify an assembly!

Gather the elders;

gather the children and the nursing infants.

Let the bridegroom come out from his bedroom

and the bride from her private quarters. ¹⁵ 

2:17 Let the priests, those who serve the Lord, weep

from the vestibule all the way back to the altar. ¹⁶ 

Let them say, “Have pity, O Lord, on your people;

please do not turn over your inheritance to be mocked,

to become a proverb ¹⁷  among the nations.

Why should it be said ¹⁸  among the peoples,

“Where is their God?”