Discovery BoxJoel 2:11-15 
Context2:11 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.
