8. They do not jostle one another; each marches in his path;they burst through the weaponsand are not halted.
9. They leap upon the city,they run upon the walls, they climb up into the houses, they enter through the windows like a thief.
10. The earth quakes before them;the heavens tremble. The sun and the moon are darkened,and the stars withdraw their shining.
11. The Lord utters his voicebefore his army,for his camp is exceedingly great; he who executes his word is powerful. For the day of the Lord is great and very awesome; who can endure it?
12. “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
13. and rend your hearts and not your garments.”Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful,slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.
14. Who knows whether he will not turn and relent,and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offeringfor the Lord your God?
15. Blow the trumpet in Zion; consecrate a fast;call a solemn assembly;
16. gather the people. Consecrate the congregation;assemble the elders; gather the children,even nursing infants. Let the bridegroom leave his room,and the bride her chamber.
17. Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weepand say, “Spare your people, O Lord,and make not your heritage a reproach,a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples,‘Where is their God?’”
18. Then the Lord became jealous for his land and had pity on his people.
19. The Lord answered and said to his people,“Behold, I am sending to yougrain, wine, and oil, and you will be satisfied;and I will no more make youa reproach among the nations.
20. “I will remove the northerner far from you,and drive him into a parched and desolate land,his vanguard into the eastern sea,and his rear guard into the western sea; the stench and foul smell of him will rise,for he has done great things.
21. “Fear not, O land;be glad and rejoice,for the Lord has done great things!
22. Fear not, you beasts of the field,for the pastures of the wilderness are green; the tree bears its fruit;the fig tree and vine give their full yield.