Joel 2

1 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].

١ اِضْرِبُوا بِٱلْبُوقِ فِي صِهْيَوْنَ. صَوِّتُوا فِي جَبَلِ قُدْسِي! لِيَرْتَعِدْ جَمِيعُ سُكَّانِ ٱلْأَرْضِ لِأَنَّ يَوْمَ ٱلرَّبِّ قَادِمٌ، لِأَنَّهُ قَرِيبٌ:

2 [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.

٢ يَوْمُ ظَلَامٍ وَقَتَامٍ، يَوْمُ غَيْمٍ وَضَبَابٍ، مِثْلَ ٱلْفَجْرِ مُمْتَدًّا عَلَى ٱلْجِبَالِ. شَعْبٌ كَثِيرٌ وَقَوِيٌّ لَمْ يَكُنْ نَظِيرُهُ مُنْذُ ٱلْأَزَلِ، وَلَا يَكُونُ أَيْضًا بَعْدَهُ إِلَى سِنِي دَوْرٍ فَدَوْرٍ.

3 [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.

٣ قُدَّامَهُ نَارٌ تَأْكُلُ، وَخَلْفَهُ لَهِيبٌ يَحْرِقُ. ٱلْأَرْضُ قُدَّامَهُ كَجَنَّةِ عَدْنٍ وَخَلْفَهُ قَفْرٌ خَرِبٌ، وَلَا تَكُونُ مِنْهُ نَجَاةٌ.

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

٤ كَمَنْظَرِ ٱلْخَيْلِ مَنْظَرُهُ، وَمِثْلَ ٱلْأَفْرَاسِ يَرْكُضُونَ.

5 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].

٥ كَصَرِيفِ ٱلْمَرْكَبَاتِ عَلَى رُؤُوسِ ٱلْجِبَالِ يَثِبُونَ. كَزَفِيرِ لَهِيبِ نَارٍ تَأْكُلُ قَشًّا. كَقَوْمٍ أَقْوِيَاءَ مُصْطَفِّينَ لِلْقِتَالِ.

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

٦ مِنْهُ تَرْتَعِدُ ٱلشُّعُوبِ. كُلُّ ٱلْوُجُوهِ تَجْمَعُ حُمْرَةً.

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

٧ يَجْرُونَ كَأَبْطَالٍ. يَصْعَدُونَ ٱلسُّورَ كَرِجَالِ ٱلْحَرْبِ، وَيَمْشُونَ كُلُّ وَاحِدٍ فِي طَرِيقِهِ، وَلَا يُغَيِّرُونَ سُبُلَهُمْ.

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

٨ وَلَا يُزَاحِمُ بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضًا. يَمْشُونَ كُلُّ وَاحِدٍ فِي سَبِيلِهِ، وَبَيْنَ ٱلْأَسْلِحَةِ يَقَعُونَ وَلَا يَنْكَسِرُونَ.

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

٩ يَتَرَاكَضُونَ فِي ٱلْمَدِينَةِ. يَجْرُونَ عَلَى ٱلسُّورِ. يَصْعَدُونَ إِلَى ٱلْبُيُوتِ. يَدْخُلُونَ مِنَ ٱلْكُوَى كَٱللِّصِّ.

10 [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].

١٠ قُدَّامَهُ تَرْتَعِدُ ٱلْأَرْضُ وَتَرْجُفُ ٱلسَّمَاءُ. اَلشَّمْسُ وَٱلْقَمَرُ يُظْلِمَانِ، وَٱلنُّجُومُ تَحْجُزُ لَمَعَانَهَا.

11 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.

١١ وَٱلرَّبُّ يُعْطِي صَوْتَهُ أَمَامَ جَيْشِهِ. إِنَّ عَسْكَرَهُ كَثِيرٌ جِدًّا. فَإِنَّ صَانِعَ قَوْلِهِ قَوِيٌّ، لِأَنَّ يَوْمَ ٱلرَّبِّ عَظِيمٌ وَمَخُوفٌ جِدًّا، فَمَنْ يُطِيقُهُ؟

12 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].

١٢ «وَلَكِنِ ٱلْآنَ، يَقُولُ ٱلرَّبُّ، ٱرْجِعُوا إِلَيَّ بِكُلِّ قُلُوبِكُمْ، وَبِٱلصَّوْمِ وَٱلْبُكَاءِ وَٱلنَّوْحِ.

13 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.

١٣ وَمَزِّقُوا قُلُوبَكُمْ لَا ثِيَابَكُمْ». وَٱرْجِعُوا إِلَى ٱلرَّبِّ إِلَهِكُمْ لِأَنَّهُ رَؤُوفٌ رَحِيمٌ، بَطِيءُ ٱلْغَضَبِ وَكَثِيرُ ٱلرَّأْفَةِ وَيَنْدَمُ عَلَى ٱلشَّرِّ.

14 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.

١٤ لَعَلَّهُ يَرْجِعُ وَيَنْدَمُ، فَيُبْقِيَ وَرَاءَهُ بَرَكَةَ، تَقْدِمَةٍ وَسَكِيبًا لِلرَّبِّ إِلَهِكُمْ.

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

١٥ اِضْرِبُوا بِٱلْبُوقِ فِي صِهْيَوْنَ. قَدِّسُوا صَوْمًا. نَادُوا بِٱعْتِكَافٍ.

16 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.

١٦ اِجْمَعُوا ٱلشَّعْبَ. قَدِّسُوا ٱلْجَمَاعَةَ. ٱحْشُدُوا ٱلشُّيُوخَ. ٱجْمَعُوا ٱلْأَطْفَالَ وَرَاضِعِي ٱلثُّدِيِّ. لِيَخْرُجِ ٱلْعَرِيسُ مِنْ مِخْدَعِهِ وَٱلْعَرُوسُ مِنْ حَجَلَتِهَا.

17 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]?’”

١٧ لِيَبْكِ ٱلْكَهَنَةُ خُدَّامُ ٱلرَّبِّ بَيْنَ ٱلرِّواقِ وَٱلْمَذْبَحِ، وَيَقُولُوا: «ٱشْفِقْ يَارَبُّ عَلَى شَعْبِكَ، وَلَا تُسَلِّمْ مِيرَاثَكَ لِلْعَارِ حَتَّى تَجْعَلَهُمُ ٱلْأُمَمُ مَثَلًا. لِمَاذَا يَقُولُونَ بَيْنَ ٱلشُّعُوبِ: أَيْنَ إِلَهُهُمْ؟».

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

١٨ فَيَغَارُ ٱلرَّبُّ لِأَرْضِهِ وَيَرِقُّ لِشَعْبِهِ.

19 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.

١٩ وَيُجِيبُ ٱلرَّبُّ وَيَقُولُ لِشَعْبِهِ: «هَأَنَذَا مُرْسِلٌ لَكُمْ قَمْحًا وَمِسْطَارًا وَزَيْتًا لِتَشْبَعُوا مِنْهَا، وَلَا أَجْعَلُكُمْ أَيْضًا عَارًا بَيْنَ ٱلْأُمَمِ.

20 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!

٢٠ وَٱلشِّمَالِيُّ أُبْعِدُهُ عَنْكُمْ، وَأَطْرُدُهُ إِلَى أَرْضٍ نَاشِفَةٍ وَمُقْفِرَةٍ. مُقَدَّمَتُهُ إِلَى ٱلْبَحْرِ ٱلشَّرْقِيِّ، وَسَاقَتُهُ إِلَى ٱلْبَحْرِ ٱلْغَرْبِيِّ، فَيَصْعَدُ نَتَنُهُ، وَتَطْلُعُ زُهْمَتُهُ، لِأَنَّهُ قَدْ تَصَلَّفَ فِي عَمَلِهِ».

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

٢١ لَا تَخَافِي أَيَّتُهَا ٱلْأَرْضُ. ٱبْتَهِجِي وَٱفْرَحِي لِأَنَّ ٱلرَّبَّ يُعَظِّمُ عَمَلَهُ.

22 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.

٢٢ لَا تَخَافِي يَا بَهَائِمَ ٱلصَّحْرَاءِ، فَإِنَّ مَرَاعِيَ ٱلْبَرِّيَّةِ تَنْبُتُ، لِأَنَّ ٱلْأَشْجَارَ تَحْمِلُ ثَمَرَهَا، ٱلتِّينَةُ وَٱلْكَرْمَةُ تُعْطِيَانِ قُوَّتَهُمَا.

23 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.

٢٣ وَيَا بَنِي صِهْيَوْنَ، ٱبْتَهِجُوا وَٱفْرَحُوا بِٱلرَّبِّ إِلَهِكُمْ، لِأَنَّهُ يُعْطِيكُمُ ٱلْمَطَرَ ٱلْمُبَكِّرَ عَلَى حَقِّهِ، وَيُنْزِلُ عَلَيْكُمْ مَطَرًا مُبَكِّرًا وَمُتَأَخِّرًا فِي أَوَّلِ ٱلْوَقْتِ،

24 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.

٢٤ فَتُمْلَأُ ٱلْبَيَادِرُ حِنْطَةً، وَتَفِيضُ حِيَاضُ ٱلْمَعَاصِرِ خَمْرًا وَزَيْتًا.

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

٢٥ «وَأُعَوِّضُ لَكُمْ عَنِ ٱلسِّنِينَ ٱلَّتِي أَكَلَهَا ٱلْجَرَادُ، ٱلْغَوْغَاءُ وَٱلطَّيَّارُ وَٱلْقَمَصُ، جَيْشِي ٱلْعَظِيمُ ٱلَّذِي أَرْسَلْتُهُ عَلَيْكُمْ.

26 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.

٢٦ فَتَأْكُلُونَ أَكْلًا وَتَشْبَعُونَ وَتُسَبِّحُونَ ٱسْمَ ٱلرَّبِّ إِلَهِكُمُ ٱلَّذِي صَنَعَ مَعَكُمْ عَجَبًا، وَلَا يَخْزَى شَعْبِي إِلَى ٱلْأَبَدِ.

27 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.”

٢٧ وَتَعْلَمُونَ أَنِّي أَنَا فِي وَسْطِ إِسْرَائِيلَ، وَأَنِّي أَنَا ٱلرَّبُّ إِلَهُكُمْ وَلَيْسَ غَيْرِي. وَلَا يَخْزَى شَعْبِي إِلَى ٱلْأَبَدِ.

28 “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].

٢٨ «وَيَكُونُ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ أَنِّي أَسْكُبُ رُوحِي عَلَى كُلِّ بَشَرٍ، فَيَتَنَبَّأُ بَنُوكُمْ وَبَنَاتُكُمْ، وَيَحْلَمُ شُيُوخُكُمْ أَحْلَامًا، وَيَرَى شَبَابُكُمْ رُؤًى.

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

٢٩ وَعَلَى ٱلْعَبِيدِ أَيْضًا وَعَلَى ٱلْإِمَاءِ أَسْكُبُ رُوحِي فِي تِلْكَ ٱلْأَيَّامِ،

30 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.

٣٠ وَأُعْطِي عَجَائِبَ فِي ٱلسَّمَاءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ، دَمًا وَنَارًا وَأَعْمِدَةَ دُخَانٍ.

31 [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.

٣١ تَتَحَوَّلُ ٱلشَّمْسُ إِلَى ظُلْمَةٍ، وَٱلْقَمَرُ إِلَى دَمٍ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَجِيءَ يَوْمُ ٱلرَّبِّ ٱلْعَظِيمُ ٱلْمَخُوفُ.

32 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.”

٣٢ وَيَكُونُ أَنَّ كُلَّ مَنْ يَدْعُو بِٱسْمِ ٱلرَّبِّ يَنْجُو. لِأَنَّهُ فِي جَبَلِ صِهْيَوْنَ وَفِي أُورُشَلِيمَ تَكُونُ نَجَاةٌ، كَمَا قَالَ ٱلرَّبُّ. وَبَيْنَ ٱلْبَاقِينَ مَنْ يَدْعُوهُ ٱلرَّبُّ.