يُوئيل 2

١ 1 انْفُخُوا بِالْبُوقِ فِي صِهْيَوْنَ، وَأَطْلِقُوا نَفِيرَ الإِنْذَارِ فِي جَبَلِ قُدْسِي، وَلْيَرْتَعِدْ جَمِيعُ سُكَّانِ الأَرْضِ، لأَنَّ يَوْمَ الرَّبِّ مُقْبِلٌ وَقَدْ بَاتَ وَشِيكاً.

Blow trumpets on Zion [Hill], God’s sacred hill [in Jerusalem]! Tell the people of Judah that they should tremble, because it will soon be the time for Yahweh [to punish us further].

٢ 2 هُوَ يَوْمُ ظُلْمَةٍ وَتَجَهُّمٍ، يَوْمُ غُيُومٍ مُكْفَهِرَّةٍ وَقَتَامٍ دَامِسٍ، فِيهِ تَزْحَفُ أُمَّةٌ قَوِيَّةٌ وَعَظِيمَةٌ كَمَا يَزْحَفُ الظَّلامُ عَلَى الْجِبَالِ، أُمَّةٌ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهَا شَبِيهٌ فِي سَالِفِ الزَّمَانِ، وَلَنْ يَكُونَ لَهَا نَظِيرٌ مِنْ بَعْدِهَا عَبْرَ سِنِي الأَجْيَالِ.

[That will be a very] dark and gloomy day; there will be [black] clouds and it will be very dark. A huge [swarm of locusts] has covered the mountains like [SIM] a black [cloud]. Nothing like this has ever happened before, and nothing like this will ever [happen] again.

٣ 3 تَلْتَهِمُ النَّارُ مَا أَمَامَهَا، وَيُحْرِقُ اللهِيبُ مَا خَلْفَهَا. الأَرْضُ قُدَّامَهَا كَجَنَّةِ عَدْنٍ، وَخَلْفَهَا صَحْرَاءُ مُوْحِشَةٌ، وَلا شَيْءَ يَنْجُو مِنْهَا.

[It is as though the locusts bring] flames of fire from which no one can escape. In front of them, the land was [beautiful] like [SIM] the garden of Eden, but behind them [the land is like] a desert and nothing survives.

٤ 4 مَنْظَرُهُمْ كَالْخُيُولِ، وَكَأَفْرَاسِ الْحَرْبِ يَرْكُضُونَ.

[The locusts] resemble horses, and they run like [SIM] war horses.

٥ 5 يَثِبُونَ عَلَى رُؤُوسِ الْجِبَالِ فِي جَلَبَةٍ كَجَلَبَةِ الْمَرْكَبَاتِ، كَفَرْقَعَةِ لَهِيبِ نَارٍ يَلْتَهِمُ الْقَشَّ، وَكَجَيْشٍ عَاتٍ مُصْطَفٍّ لِلْقِتَالِ.

Leaping over the mountaintops, they make a noise like rumbling chariots, like [SIM] a mighty army that is preparing for a battle, or like [SIM] the roar of a fire that burns up stubble [in a field].

٦ 6 تَنْتَابُ الرِّعْدَةُ مِنْهُمْ جَمِيعَ الشُّعُوبِ وَتَشْحَبُ كُلُّ الْوُجُوهِ.

When people see them coming, they become very pale and frightened.

٧ 7 يَنْدَفِعُونَ كَالْجَبَابِرَةِ وَكَرِجَالِ الْحَرْبِ يَتَسَلَّقُونَ السُّورَ، وَكُلٌّ مِنْهُمْ يَزْحَفُ فِي طَرِيقِهِ لَا يَحِيدُ عَنْ سَبِيلِهِ.

[The locusts] climb over walls like soldiers do; they march along in columns and never turn aside [from their columns].

٨ 8 لَا يُزَاحِمُ بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضاً. بَلْ يَتَقَدَّمُ كُلٌّ مِنْهُمْ فِي طَرِيقِهِ. يَنْسَلُّونَ بَيْنَ الأَسْلِحَةِ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَتَوَقَّفُوا.

They rush straight ahead without pushing each other. [Even though people throw] spears and javelins at them, that will not cause them to stop.

٩ 9 يَنْقَضُّونَ عَلَى الْمَدِينَةِ وَيَتَوَاثَبُونَ فَوْقَ الأَسْوَارِ، يَتَسَلَّقُونَ الْبُيُوتَ وَيَتَسَلَّلُونَ مِنَ الْكُوَى كَاللِّصِّ.

They swarm over the city walls and enter our houses; they enter through our windows like [SIM] thieves do.

١٠ 10 تَرْتَعِدُ الأَرْضُ أَمَامَهُمْ وَتَرْجُفُ السَّمَاءُ، تُظْلِمُ الشَّمْسُ وَالْقَمَرُ، وَتَكُفُّ الْكَوَاكِبُ عَنِ الضِّيَاءِ.

[It is as though] they cause the earth to shake and the sky to tremble. The sun and the moon become dark and the stars do not shine [because there are so many locusts in the sky].

١١ 11 يَجْهَرُ الرَّبُّ بِصَوْتِهِ فِي مُقَدَّمَةِ جَيْشِهِ لأَنَّ جُنْدَهُ لَا يُحْصَى لَهُمْ عَدَدٌ، وَمَنْ يُنَفِّذُ أَمْرَهُ يَكُونُ مُقْتَدِراً، لأَنَّ يَوْمَ الرَّبِّ عَظِيمٌ وَمُخِيفٌ جِدّاً، فَمَنْ يَتَحَمَّلُهُ؟

Yahweh leads this army [of countless locusts], and they obey his commands. This time when he is judging and punishing us is very terrible, [with the result that it seems that] no one [RHQ] can survive it.

١٢ 12 وَالآنَ، يَقُولُ الرَّبُّ: ارْجِعُوا إِلَيَّ مِنْ كُلِّ قُلُوبِكُمْ بِصَوْمٍ وَبُكَاءٍ وَنَوْحٍ.

But Yahweh says, “In spite of [these disasters that you have experienced], you can return to me with all your inner beings. Weep, and mourn, and (fast/abstain from eating food) [to show that you are sorry for having abandoned me].

١٣ 13 مَزِّقُوا قُلُوبَكُمْ لَا ثِيَابَكُمْ. ارْجِعُوا إِلَى الرَّبِّ إِلَهِكُمْ لأَنَّهُ رَؤُوفٌ وَرَحِيمٌ بَطِيءُ الْغَضَبِ وَكَثِيرُ الرَّأْفَةِ، وَلا يُسَرُّ بِالْعِقَابِ.

Do not tear your clothes [to show that you are sorry]; instead, show [MET] that you are sorry.” Yahweh is merciful and kind; he does not quickly become angry; he faithfully loves [people]. He does not quickly become angry; instead, he greatly and faithfully loves [you], and he does not like to punish you.

١٤ 14 لَعَلَّهُ يَرْجِعُ وَيَكُفُّ عَنِ الْعِقَابِ مُخْلِفاً وَرَاءَهُ بَرَكَةً: تَقْدِمَةَ دَقِيقٍ وَتَقْدِمَةَ سَكِيبٍ لِتُقَرِّبُوهُمَا لِلرَّبِّ إِلَهِكُمْ.

No one knows [RHQ] if he will change his mind [about punishing you] and if instead he will act mercifully [toward you]. If he does that, he will bless you [by giving you plenty of grain and wine] in order that you can offer [some of] those things as sacrifices to him.

١٥ 15 انْفُخُوا بِالْبُوقِ فِي صِهْيَوْنَ، وَقَدِّسُوا صَوْماً، وَنَادُوا لِمَحْفَلٍ مُقَدَّسٍ.

Blow the trumpets on Zion [Hill]! Gather the people together! Show by fasting that you are sorry [for the sins that you have committed].

١٦ 16 اجْمَعُوا الشَّعْبَ، قَدِّسُوا الْجَمَاعَةَ، احْشُدُوا الشُّيُوخَ وَالأَوْلادَ وَالرُّضَّعَ. لِيُغَادِرِ الْعَرِيسُ مُخْدَعَهُ وَالْعَرُوسُ حُجْرَتَهَا.

Perform the rituals to cause yourselves to be acceptable to Yahweh. Gather everyone together— the old people and the children, even the babies, and summon brides and bridegrooms from their rooms.

١٧ 17 لِيَبْكِ الْكَهَنَةُ خُدَّامُ الرَّبِّ بَيْنَ الرُّوَاقِ وَالْمَذْبَحِ قَائِلِينَ: «اعْفُ عَنْ شَعْبِكَ يَا رَبُّ وَلا تَجْعَلْ مِيرَاثَكَ مَثَارَ احْتِقَارٍ وَهُزْءٍ بَيْنَ الأُمَمِ، فَيَقُولُوا بَيْنَ الشُّعُوبِ: أَيْنَ إِلَهُهُمْ؟»

Tell the priests who serve Yahweh to cry between the altar and the entrance to the temple and to pray [this]: “Yahweh, rescue/save [us] your people; do not allow people from other nations to despise us; do not allow them to ridicule us and say, ‘Why has [RHQ] their God [abandoned them]?’”

١٨ 18 عِنْدَئِذٍ يَغَارُ الرَّبُّ عَلَى أَرْضِهِ ويَرِقُّ لِشَعْبِهِ.

But Yahweh [showed that he] was concerned about his people and that he would act mercifully toward them.

١٩ 19 وَيُجِيبُهُمْ قَائِلاً: هَا أَنَا أُنْعِمُ عَلَيْكُمْ بِالْحِنْطَةِ وَالْخَمْرَةِ وَالزَّيْتِ فَتَشْبَعُونَ مِنْهَا، وَلا أَجْعَلُكُمْ مِنْ بَعْدُ عَاراً بَيْنَ الأُمَمِ.

When the people prayed, Yahweh answered and said, “I will give you [plenty of] grain and wine and [olive] oil, and you will be satisfied. And I will no longer allow other nations to insult you.

٢٠ 20 سَأَطْرُدُ عَنْكُمُ الشِّمَالِيَّ، وَأَطُوِّحُ بِهِ إِلَى أَرْضٍ مُقْفِرَةٍ مُوْحِشَةٍ فَتَكُونُ طَلِيعَتُهُ فِي الْبَحْرِ الْمَيْتِ وَمُؤَخِّرَتُهُ فِي الْبَحْرِ الأَبْيَضِ، فَتَمْلأُ رَائِحَةُ نَتَنِهِ وَعُفُونَتِهِ الْفَضَاءَ، لأَنَّهُ قَدِ ارْتَكَبَ الْكَبَائِرَ.

Another army [of locusts will come] from the north [to attack you], but I will force them to continue [past Jerusalem] into the desert. Some will go into the Dead Sea in the east and some will go into the [Mediterranean] Sea in the west. [There] they will [all die, and their bodies] will stink.” Yahweh does great things!

٢١ 21 لَا تَخَافِي أَيَّتُهَا الأَرْضُ، ابْتَهِجِي وَافْرَحِي لأَنَّ الرَّبَّ قَدْ صَنَعَ عَظَائِمَ.

He does wonderful things! So even the ground should rejoice!

٢٢ 22 لَا تَخَافِي يَا بَهَائِمَ الْحَقْلِ، لأَنَّ مَرَاعِيَ الْبَرِّ قَدْ أَضْحَتْ خَضْرَاءَ، وَالأَشْجَارَ بَاتَتْ مُثَقَّلَةً بِالثِّمَارِ، وَشَجَرَةَ التِّينِ وَالْكَرْمَةَ تَجُودَانِ بِنِتَاجِهِمَا.

And the wild animals should not be afraid, because the meadows will soon become green again; the fig trees and [other] trees will be full of fruit, and the grapevines will be covered with grapes.

٢٣ 23 افْرَحُوا يَا أَبْنَاءَ صِهْيَوْنَ، ابْتَهِجُوا بِالرَّبِّ إِلَهِكُمْ لأَنَّهُ أَنْعَمَ عَلَيْكُمْ بِفَضْلِ صَلاحِهِ بِأَمْطَارِ الْخَرِيفِ، وَسَكَبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْغَيْثَ الْمُبَكِّرَ وَالْمُتَأَخِّرَ بِغَزَارَةٍ، كَالسَّابِقِ.

You people of Jerusalem, rejoice about what Yahweh, your God, [will be doing for you]. He will send abundant rain at the (right time/time when it is needed)— (in the spring/early in the year) and (in the autumn/late in the year) like he did previously.

٢٤ 24 فَتَمْتَلِئُ الْبَيَادِرُ بِأَكْوَامِ الْقَمْحِ، وَتَتَدَفَّقُ الْمَعَاصِرُ بِالْخَمْرَةِ وَالزَّيْتِ.

The ground where you thresh the grain will be covered with grain, and your vats where you store grape juice and [olive] oil will be full.

٢٥ 25 وَأُعَوِّضُكُمْ عَنْ مَحَاصِيلِ السِّنِينَ الَّتِي الْتَهَمَهَا الْجَرَادُ وَالْجَنْدُبُ وَالطَّيَّارُ وَالْقَمَصُ، جَيْشِي الْعَظِيمُ الَّذِي أَطْلَقْتُهُ عَلَيْكُمْ.

[Yahweh said, ] “I will repay you for everything that was destroyed by those great swarms of locusts that I sent to attack you.

٢٦ 26 فَتَأْكُلُونَ بِوَفْرَةٍ وَتَشْبَعُونَ وَتُسَبِّحُونَ اسْمَ الرَّبِّ إِلَهِكُمُ الَّذِي أَجْرَى لَكُمُ الْعَجَائِبَ، وَلَنْ يَخْزَى شَعْبِي ثَانِيَةً.

You, my people, will eat until your stomachs are full. Then you will praise me [MTY], Yahweh, your God, for the wonderful things that I have done for you. And never again will you be disgraced.

٢٧ 27 فَتُدْرِكُونَ أَنِّي فِي وَسَطِ إِسْرَائِيلَ، وَأَنِّي أَنَا هُوَ الرَّبُّ إِلَهُكُمْ وَلَيْسَ غَيْرِي، وَلَنْ يَخْزَى شَعْبِي ثَانِيَةً.

When that happens, you will know that I am [always] among you, and that I am Yahweh, your God, and that there is no other [God]. Never again will you be disgraced.”

٢٨ 28 ثُمَّ أَسْكُبُ رُوحِي عَلَى كُلِّ بَشَرٍ، فَيَتَنَبَّأُ أَبْنَاؤُكُمْ وَبَنَاتُكُمْ، وَيَحْلَمُ شُيُوخُكُمْ أَحْلاماً وَيَرَى شَبَابُكُمْ رُؤىً.

“Some time later, I will give my Spirit to many [HYP] people. Your sons and daughters will proclaim messages that come directly from me. Your old men will have dreams [that come from me], and your young men will have visions [that come from me].

٢٩ 29 وَأَسْكُبُ فِي تِلْكَ الأَيَّامِ أَيْضاً رُوحِي عَلَى الْعَبِيدِ وَالإِمَاءِ.

At that time, I will give my Spirit even to servants, both men and women.

٣٠ 30 وَأُجْرِي آيَاتٍ فِي السَّمَاءِ وَعَلَى الأَرْضِ، دَماً وَنَاراً وَأَعْمِدَةَ دُخَانٍ.

I will do unusual/amazing things on the earth and in the sky. [On the earth] [CHI], there will be much blood [shed] and [there will be very large] fires and smoke that resembles huge clouds.

٣١ 31 وَتَتَحَوَّلُ الشَّمْسُ إِلَى ظَلامٍ، وَالْقَمَرُ إِلَى دَمٍ، قَبْلَ مَجِيءِ يَوْمِ الرَّبِّ الْعَظِيمِ الْمُخِيفِ.

[In the sky, ] the sun will become dark and the moon will become [as red as] [MET] blood. [Those things will happen] before that great and terrible day when [I], Yahweh, appear.

٣٢ 32 إِنَّمَا كُلُّ مَنْ يَدْعُو بِاسْمِ الرَّبِّ يَخْلُصُ، لأَنَّ النَّجَاةَ تَكُونُ فِي جَبَلِ صِهْيَوْنَ وَفِي أُورُشَلِيمَ، كَمَا قَالَ الرَّبُّ، إِذْ يَكُونُ بَيْنَ النَّاجِينَ مَنْ يَدْعُوهُ الرَّبُّ.

But at that time [I] will save everyone who worships me. I promise that some people in Jerusalem [DOU] will escape [those disasters]; those whom I have chosen will survive.”