Joel

¹ God's Message to Joel son of Pethuel:

² everyone, whoever and wherever you are! Have you ever heard of anything like this? Has anything like this ever happened before—ever?

³ and your children tell their children, And their children their children. Don't let this message die out.

⁴ the gobbling locust ate; What the gobbling locust left, the munching locust ate; What the munching locust left, the chomping locust ate.

⁵ Get in touch with reality—and weep! Your supply of booze is cut off. You're on the wagon, like it or not.

⁶ by an army invincible, past numbering, Teeth like those of a lion, fangs like those of a tiger.

⁷ stripped my orchards, And clear-cut the country. The landscape's a moonscape.

⁸ mourning the loss of her fianc-.

⁹ worship has been brought to a standstill in the Sanctuary of God. The priests are at a loss. God's ministers don't know what to do.

¹⁰ The very ground grieves. The wheat fields are lifeless, vineyards dried up, olive oil gone.

¹¹ Grape growers, wring your hands! Lament the loss of wheat and barley. All crops have failed.

¹² fig trees withered, Pomegranates, date palms, and apple trees— deadwood everywhere! And joy is dried up and withered in the hearts of the people.

¹³ put on your robes and join the outcry. You who lead people in worship, lead them in lament. Spend the night dressed in gunnysacks, you servants of my God. Nothing's going on in the place of worship, no offerings, no prayers—nothing.

¹⁴ get the leaders together, Round up everyone in the country. Get them into God's Sanctuary for serious prayer to God.

¹⁵ God's Judgment Day has come. The Strong God has arrived. This is serious business!

¹⁶ as are joy and singing from God's Sanctuary.

¹⁷ barns deserted, Grain silos abandoned. Who needs them? The crops have failed!

¹⁸ The cattle mill around. There's nothing for them to eat. Not even the sheep find anything.

¹⁹ The fields are burning up, The country is a dust bowl, forest and prairie fires rage unchecked.

²⁰ look to you for a drink. Springs and streams are dried up. The whole country is burning up.