Joel 2

1 Stød i Horn paa Zion, blæs Alarm paa mit hellige Bjerg! Alle i Landet skal bæve, thi HERRENS Dag, den kommer;

Blow ye the trumpet in Sion, sound an alarm in my holy mountain, let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: because the day of the Lord cometh, because it is nigh at hand,

2 ja, nær er Mulms og Mørkes Dag, Skyers og Taages Dag. Et stort, et vældigt Folk er bredt som Gry over Bjerge. Dets Lige har aldrig været, skal aldrig komme herefter til fjerneste Slægters Aar.

A day of darkness, and of gloominess, a day of clouds and whirlwinds: a numerous and strong people as the morning spread upon the mountains: the like to it hath not been from the beginning, nor shall be after it even to the years of generation and generation.

3 Foran det æder Ild, og bag det flammer Lue; foran det er Landet som Eden og bag det en øde Ørk; fra det slipper ingen bort.

Before the face thereof a devouring fire, and behind it a burning flame: the land is like a garden of pleasure before it, and behind it a desolate wilderness, neither is there any one that can escape it.

4 At se til er de som Heste, som Hingste farer de frem;

The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses, and they shall run like horsemen.

5 det lyder som raslende Vogne, naar de hopper paa Bjergenes Tinder, som knitrende Lue, der æder Straa, som en vældig Hær, der er rustet til Strid.

They shall leap like the noise of chariots upon the tops of mountains, like the noise of a flame of fire devouring the stubble, as a strong people prepared to battle.

6 Folkeslag skælver for dem, alle Ansigter blusser.

At their presence the people shall be in grievous pains: all faces shall be made like a kettle.

7 Som Helte haster de frem, som Stridsmænd stormer de Mure; enhver gaar lige ud, de bøjer ej af fra Vejen.

They shall run like valiant men: like men of war they shall scale the wall: the men shall march every one on his way, and they shall not turn aside from their ranks.

8 De trænger ikke hverandre, hver følger sin egen Sti. Trods Vaabenmagt styrter de frem uden at lade sig standse, de kaster sig over Byen,

No one shall press upon his brother: they shall walk every one in his path: yea, and they shall fall through the windows, and shall take no harm.

9 stormer Muren i Løb; i Husene trænger de ind, gennem Vinduer kommer de som Tyve.

They shall enter into the city: they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up the houses, they shall come in at the windows as a thief.

10 Foran dem skælver Jorden, Himlen bæver; Sol og Maane sortner, Stjernerne mister deres Glans.

At their presence the earth hath trembled, the heavens are moved: the sun and moon are darkened, and the stars have withdrawn their shining.

11 Foran sin Stridsmagt løfter HERREN sin Røst, thi saare stor er hans Hær, ja, hans Ords Fuldbyrder er vældig; thi stor er HERRENS Dag og saare frygtelig; hvem holder den ud?

And the Lord hath uttered his voice before the face of his army: for his armies are exceeding great, for they are strong and execute his word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible: and who can stand it?

12 Selv nu, saa lyder det fra HERREN, vend om til mig af ganske Hjerte, med Faste og Graad og Klage!

Now therefore saith the Lord: Be converted to me with all your heart, in fasting, and in weeping, and in mourning.

13 Sønderriv Hjerterne, ej eders Klæder, vend om til HERREN eders Gud! Thi naadig og barmhjertig er han, langmodig og rig paa Miskundhed, han angrer det onde.

And rend your hearts, and not your garments, and turn to the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, patient and rich in mercy, and ready to repent of the evil.

14 Maaske slaar han om og angrer og levner Velsignelse efter sig, Afgrødeoffer og Drikoffer til HERREN eders Gud.

Who knoweth but he will return, and forgive, and leave a blessing behind him, sacrifice and libation to the Lord your God?

15 Stød i Horn paa Zion, helliger Faste, udraab festlig Samling,

Blow the trumpet in Sion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly,

16 kald Folket sammen, helliger et Stævne, lad de gamle samles, kald Børnene sammen, ogsaa dem, som dier Bryst; lad Brudgom gaa ud af sit Kammer, Brud af sit Telt!

Gather together the people, sanctify the church, assemble the ancients, gather together the little ones, and them that suck at the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth from his bed, and the bride out of her bride chamber.

17 Imellem Forhal og Alter skal Præsterne, HERRENS Tjenere, græde og sige: »HERRE, spar dog dit Folk! Overgiv ej din Arv til Skændsel, til Hedningers Spot! Hvi skal man sige blandt Folkene: Hvor er deres Gud?«

Between the porch and the altar the priests the Lord’s ministers shall weep, and shall say: Spare, O Lord, spare thy people: and give not thy inheritance to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them. Why should they say among the nations: Where is their God?

18 Og HERREN blev nidkær for sit Land og fik Medynk med sit Folk.

The Lord hath been zealous for his land, and hath spared his people.

19 Og HERREN svarede sit Folk: Se, jeg sender eder Korn, Most og Olie, saa I kan mættes deraf; og jeg vil ikke længer gøre eder til Skændsel iblandt Hedningerne.

And the Lord answered and said to his people: Behold I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and you shall be filled with them: and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations.

20 Fjenden fra Nord driver jeg langt bort fra eder og støder ham ud i et tørt og øde Land, hans Fortrop ud i Havet i Øst og hans Bagtrop i Havet i Vest, og han skal udsprede Stank og ilde Lugt; thi han udførte store Ting.

And I will remove far off from you the northern enemy: and I will drive him into a land unpassable, and desert, with his face towards the east sea, and his hinder part towards the utmost sea: and his stench shall ascend, and his rottenness shall go up, because he hath done proudly.

21 Frygt ikke, Jord, fryd dig, vær glad! Thi HERREN har udført store Ting.

Fear not, O land, be glad and rejoice: for the Lord hath done great things.

22 Frygt ikke, I Markens Dyr! Thi Ørkenens Græsmarker grønnes, og Træerne bærer Frugt; Figentræ og Vinstok giver alt, hvad de kan.

Fear not, ye beasts of the fields: for the beautiful places of the wilderness are sprung, for the tree hath brought forth its fruit, the fig tree, and the vine have yielded their strength.

23 Og I, Zions Sønner, fryd eder, vær glade i HERREN eders Gud! Thi han giver eder Føde til Frelse, idet han sender eder Regn, Tidligregn og Sildigregn, som før.

And you, O children of Sion, rejoice, and be joyful in the Lord your God: because he hath given you a teacher of justice, and he will make the early and the latter rain to come down to you as in the beginning.

24 Tærskepladserne skal fyldes med Korn, Persekummerne løbe over med Most og Olie.

And the floors shall be filled with wheat, and the presses shall overflow with wine and oil.

25 Og jeg godtgør eder de Aar, da Græshoppen, Springeren, Æderen og Gnaveren hærgede, min store Hær, som jeg sendte imod eder.

And I will restore to you the ears which the locust, and the bruchus, and the mildew, and the palmerworm have eaten; my great host which I sent upon you.

26 I skal spise og mættes og love HERREN eders Guds Navn, fordi han handler underfuldt med eder; og mit Folk skal i Evighed ikke blive til Skamme.

And you shall eat in plenty, and shall be filled: and you shall praise the name of the Lord your God, who hath done wonders with you, and my people shall not be confounded for ever.

27 Og I skal kende, at jeg er i Israels Midte, og at jeg, og ingen anden, er HERREN eders Gud; og mit Folk skal i Evighed ikke blive til Skamme.

And you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel: and I am the Lord your God, and there is none besides: and my people shall not be confounded for ever.

28 Og det skal ske derefter, at jeg vil udgyde min Aand over alt Kød, eders Sønner og eders Døtre skal profetere, eders gamle skal drømme Drømme og eders unge skue Syner;

And it shall come to pass after this, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy: your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.

29 ogsaa over Trælle og Trælkvinder vil jeg udgyde min Aand i de Dage.

Moreover upon my servants and handmaids in those days I will pour forth my spirit.

30 Og jeg lader ske Tegn paa Himmelen og paa Jorden, Blod, Ild og Røgstøtter.

And I will shew wonders in heaven; and in earth, blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke.

31 Solen skal vendes til Mørke og Maanen til Blod, før HERRENS store og frygtelige Dag kommer.

The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood: before the great and dreadful day of the Lord doth come.

32 Men enhver, som paakalder HERRENS Navn, skal frelses; thi paa Zions Bjerg og i Jerusalem skal der være Frelse, som HERREN har sagt; og til de undslupne skal hver den høre, som HERREN kalder.

And it shall come to pass, that every one that shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved: for in mount Sion, and in Jerusalem shall be salvation, as the Lord hath said, and in the residue whom the Lord shall call.