« | Joel 2 | » |
1 Sound the trumpet in Zion, make a proclamation in My holy mountain, and let all the inhabitants of the land be confounded; for the day of the Lord is near;
2 for a day of darkness and gloominess is near, a day of cloud and mist; a numerous and strong people shall be spread upon the mountains as the morning; there has not been one like it from the beginning, and after it there shall not be again, even to the years of many generations.
3 Before them is a consuming fire, and behind them is a flame kindled; the land before them is as a paradise of delight, and behind them a desolate plain, and none of them shall escape.
4 Their appearance is as the appearance of horses, and as horsemen, so shall they pursue.
5 As the sound of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, and as the sound of a flame of fire devouring stubble, and as a numerous and strong people setting themselves in array for battle.
6 Before them shall the people be crushed; every face [shall be] as the blackness of a caldron.
7 As warriors shall they run, and as men of war shall they mount on the walls; and each shall move in his [right] path, and they shall not turn aside from their tracks;
8 and not one shall stand aloof from his brother: they shall go on weighed down with their arms, and they fall upon their weapons, yet shall they in no way be destroyed.
9 They shall seize upon the city, and run upon the walls, and go up upon the houses, and enter in through the windows as thieves.
10 Before them the earth shall be confounded, and the sky shall be shaken: the sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their light.
11 And the Lord shall utter His voice before His army, for His camp is very great; for the execution of His words is mighty; for the day of the Lord is great, very glorious, and who shall be able to [resist] it?
12 Now therefore, says the Lord your God, turn to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with lamentation:
13 and tear your hearts, and not your garments, and turn to the Lord your God: for He is merciful and compassionate, long suffering, and plenteous in mercy, and relenting of evil.
14 Who knows if He will return, and repent, and leave a blessing behind Him, even a grain offering and a drink offering to the Lord your God?
15 Sound the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, proclaim a [solemn] service:
16 gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the infants at the breast: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.
17 Between the porch and the altar let the priests that minister to the Lord weep, and say, Spare Your people, O Lord, and give not Your heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them, lest they should say among the heathen, Where is their God?
18 But the Lord was jealous of His land, and spared His people.
19 And the Lord answered and said to His people, Behold, I will send you grain, and wine, and oil, and you shall be satisfied with them: and I will no longer make you a reproach among the Gentiles.
20 And I will chase away from you the northern [adversary], and will drive him away into a dry land, and I will sink his face in the former sea, and his back parts in the latter sea, and his stench shall come up, and his foul odor will rise, because he has worked great things.
21 Be of good courage, O land; rejoice and be glad, for the Lord has done great things.
22 Be of good courage, you beasts of the plain, for the plains of the wilderness have budded, for the trees have borne their fruit, the fig tree and the vine have yielded their strength.
23 Rejoice then and be glad, you children of Zion, in the Lord your God; for He has given you food fully, and He will rain on you the early and the latter rain, as before.
24 And the floors shall be filled with wheat, and the presses shall overflow with wine and oil.
25 And I will recompense you for the years which the locust, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, and the cankerworm have eaten, even My great army, which I sent against you.
26 And you shall eat abundantly, and be satisfied, and shall praise the name of the Lord your God [for the things] which He has wrought wonderfully with you, and My people shall not be put to shame.
27 And you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and [that] I am the Lord your God, and [that] there is none else beside Me; and My people shall no more be ashamed forever.
28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.
29 And on My servants and on My handmaids in those days will I pour out of My Spirit.
30 And I will show wonders in heaven, and upon the earth, blood, and fire, and vapors of smoke.
31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
32 And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved: for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall the saved one be as the Lord has said, and they that have glad tidings preached to them, whom the Lord has called.
The Apostles’ Bible Complete (ABC)
The Apostles’ Bible Complete (ABC) is a modern translation of the Bible that strives to offer a clear and faithful rendering of the scriptures in contemporary language. This translation is designed to be accessible to a wide audience, providing an easy-to-read yet accurate version of the biblical text. The ABC translation aims to bridge the gap between the ancient languages in which the Bible was originally written and the modern vernacular, making it an ideal choice for both personal study and public reading.
One of the notable features of the Apostles’ Bible Complete is its dedication to maintaining the integrity of the original manuscripts. The translators of the ABC worked meticulously with the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts to ensure that their translation accurately reflects the original meaning and intent of the scriptures. By employing a balance of formal equivalence (word-for-word) and dynamic equivalence (thought-for-thought) translation techniques, the ABC aims to preserve the nuances and richness of the original languages while ensuring readability and clarity for modern readers.
The ABC also incorporates extensive cross-references and study aids to enhance the reader’s understanding of the biblical text. These tools include footnotes that provide historical and cultural context, as well as explanations of difficult or ambiguous passages. This approach helps readers to grasp the deeper meanings of the scriptures and to see how different parts of the Bible interconnect. The inclusion of these study aids makes the ABC particularly useful for those who are new to the Bible, as well as for more experienced readers who are looking to deepen their understanding of the text.
Despite its strengths, the Apostles’ Bible Complete has faced some criticisms. Some readers feel that the translation could benefit from further refinement in certain passages, as the balance between formal and dynamic equivalence can sometimes lead to inconsistencies in style and tone. Others have noted that while the study aids are helpful, they can occasionally overwhelm the main text, making it difficult to focus on the scripture itself. Nonetheless, the ABC remains a valuable and respected translation, appreciated for its commitment to accuracy, clarity, and accessibility, and for its ability to bring the ancient words of the Bible to life for contemporary readers.