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!
1 tn Heb “the
2 tn Heb “before his army.”
3 tn Heb “military encampment.”
4 tn Heb “very large.”
5 tn Heb “he makes his word powerful.”
6 tn Or “powerful.” Heb “great.”
7 tn Heb “endure.” The MT and LXX read “endure,” while one of the Qumran manuscripts (4QXXIIc) has “bear.”
8 sn The figurative language calls for genuine repentance, and not merely external ritual that goes through the motions.
9 tn Heb “and great of loyal love.”
10 tn Heb “and he relents from calamity.”
11 tn Heb “turn” or “turn back.”
12 tn Heb “leave a blessing behind him.”
13 tn The phrase “for you to offer” does not appear in the Hebrew, but is supplied in the translation for the sake of clarity.
14 tn See the note on this term in 2:1.