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   6 (Na 2:10; Isa 13:8) Before them, peoples are tormented;   
   every face turns pale.   
   7 (Pr 30:27) Like mighty men they run,   
   like men of war they scale a wall;   
   each marches on his way,   
   they do not swerve from their paths.   
   8 They do not jostle one another;   
   each marches in his track.   
   Through the weapons they plunge;   
   they do not break rank.   
   9 (Jer 9:21; Jn 10:1) They rush on the city,   
   they run on the wall;   
   they climb up into the houses,   
   they enter through the windows like thieves.   
   10 (Ps 18:7; Isa 13:10) Before them the earth quakes,   
   the heavens shake;   
   the sun and moon darken,   
   and the stars withdraw their radiance.   
   11 (Rev 18:8; Joel 3:16) The Lord has sounded His voice   
   before His army,   
   for His camp is exceedingly great;   
   mighty is the one who accomplishes His word.   
   For great is the day of the Lord,   
   and very awe-inspiring.   
   Who can endure it?   
      
   [1] Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let   
   all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for   
   it is nigh at hand;   
   [2] A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick   
   darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a   
   strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after   
   it, even to the years of many generations.   
   [3] A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land   
   is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness;   
   yea, and nothing shall escape them.   
   [4] The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen,   
   so shall they run.   
   [5] Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap,   
   like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong   
   people set in battle array.   
   [6] Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall   
   gather blackness.   
   [7] They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of   
   war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break   
   their ranks:   
   [8] Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path:   
   and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.   
   [9] They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall,   
   they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like   
   a thief.   
   [10] The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun   
   and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:   
   [11] And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is   
   very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the   
   LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?   
      
   Return to the Lord   
      
   12 (Jer 4:1; Hos 12:6) Yet even now, declares the Lord,   
   return to Me with all your heart,   
   and with fasting and with weeping and with mourning.   
   13 (Ps 34:18; Jnh 4:2) Rend your heart,   
   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 from punishing.   
   14 (Joel 1:13; Hag 2:19) Who knows? He might turn aside and relent,   
   and He might leave behind a blessing—   
   a grain offering and a food offering   
   for the Lord your God.   
   15 (Joel 1:14; Nu 10:3) Blow the ram's horn in Zion,   
   consecrate a fast,   
   call a sacred assembly.   
   16 (Ex 19:10; 19:22) Gather the people,   
   consecrate the congregation,   
   assemble the elders,   
   gather the children   
   and those nursing at the breast;   
   let the bridegroom leave his room   
   and the bride her chamber.   
   17( Eze 8:16; Ps 79:10) Between the temple porch and the altar,   
   let the priests, ministers of the Lord, weep and say,   
   "Have pity upon Your people,   
   and do not make Your heritage a disgrace,   
   a mockery among the nations.   
   Why should they say among the peoples,   
   'Where is their God?' "   
      
   [12] Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your   
   heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:   
   [13] And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your   
   God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness,   
   and repenteth him of the evil.   
   [14] Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind   
   him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?   
   [15] Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:   
   [16] Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders,   
   gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go   
   forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.   
   [17] Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and   
   the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine   
   heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore   
   should they say among the people, Where is their God?   
      
   Rescue and Restitution   
      
   18 (Zec 1:14; 8:2) Then the Lord became jealous for His land   
   and took pity upon His people.   
   19 (Eze 34:29; Joel 1:10) So the Lord answered and said to His people,   
   Here! I am sending you grain, new wine, and oil,   
   and you will be satisfied,   
   and I will never again make you   
   a disgrace among the nations.   
   20 (Zec 14:8; Dt 11:24; Isa 34:3) I will remove the northerner far from you,   
   and I will banish him to a dry and desolate land,   
   those in front to the eastern sea,   
   and those in back to the western sea,   
   and his stink will rise,   
   and his stench will rise,   
   for he has done great things.   
   21 (Isa 54:4; Zep 3:16-17) Do not be afraid, land;   
   exult and rejoice,   
   for the Lord has done great things!   
   22 (Ps 65:12; Joel 1:18-20) Do not be afraid, beasts of the field,   
   because the wild pastures flourish,   
   because the tree bears its fruit;   
   the fig tree and the vine yield their abundance.   
   23 (Zec 10:7; Lev 26:4) And children of Zion, exult   
   and rejoice in the Lord your God,   
   because He has given to you   
   the early rain for vindication.   
   He showers down rains for you,   
   the early rain and the latter rain, as before.   
   24 (Lev 26:10; Am 9:13) Then the threshing floors will be filled with grain,   
   and the vats will overflow with new wine and oil.   
   25 (Joel 1:4-7; 2:2-11) And I will compensate you for the years the locusts   
   have eaten-the larval locust, the hopper locust,   
   and the fledging locust-   
   My great army which I sent against you.   
   26 (Lev 26:5; Isa 25:1) You will eat abundantly and be satisfied,   
   and you will praise the name of the Lord your God,   
   who has worked wonders for you;   
   and My people will never again be shamed.   
   27 (Joel 3:17; Lev 26:11-12) Then you will know that I am in the midst   
   of Israel, that I am the Lord your God,   
   and that there is no other.   
   And My people will never again be shamed.   
      
   [18] Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people.   
   [19] Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send   
   you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will   
   no more make you a reproach among the heathen:   
   [20] But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive   
   him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and   
   his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his   
   ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things.   
   [21] Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great   
   things.   
   [22] Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the   
   wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the   
   vine do yield their strength.   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)