Joel 2:2-11

LEB(i) 2 A day of darkness and gloom, a day of cloud and thick darkness, like the dawn spreads on the mountains, a great and strong army! There has been nothing like it from old, and after it nothing will be again for generations to come.* 3 Before them* a fire devours, and behind them a flame burns. Like the garden of Eden is the land before them,* and after them it is like a desolate desert, and nothing can escape them. 4 Like the appearance of horses is their appearance, and like horsemen they run; 5 like the sound of chariots on the tops of the mountains, they leap about; like the sound of a flame of fire devouring stubble; like a strong army arranged in rows for battle. 6 From before them* nations writhe, all faces turn pale.* 7 They run like mighty warriors,* they scale the wall like men of war; each goes on its own way, and they do not swerve from their paths. 8 They do not jostle one another;* each goes on its own trail; and through the falling weapons,* they are not halted. 9 In the city they rush forth; on the walls* they run. Into the houses they climb up; through the windows they enter like a thief. 10 Before them* the earth quakes; the heavens tremble; the sun and the moon grow dark, and the stars have withheld* their splendor 11 And Yahweh utters* his voice before his army, because his encampment is very large; strong is the one who carries out his decree, for great is the day of Yahweh and exceedingly fearful. Who can endure it?