< Joël Propheta 2 >

1 Canite tuba in Sion, ululate in monte sancto meo, conturbentur omnes habitatores terræ: Quia venit dies Domini, quia prope est:
Blow the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble in fear, for the day of Yahweh is coming; indeed, it is near.
2 dies tenebrarum, et caliginis, dies nubis, et turbinis: quasi mane expansum super montes populus multus et fortis: similis ei non fuit a principio, et post eum non erit usque in annos generationis et generationis.
It is a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness. Like the dawn that spreads on the mountains, a large and mighty army is approaching. There has never been an army like it, and there never will be again, even after many generations.
3 Ante faciem eius ignis vorans, et post eum exurens flamma: quasi hortus voluptatis terra coram eo, et post eum solitudo deserti, neque est qui effugiat eum.
A fire is consuming everything in front of it, and behind it a flame is burning. The land is like the garden of Eden in front of it, but behind it there is a ruined wilderness. Indeed, nothing will escape from it.
4 Quasi aspectus equorum, aspectus eorum: et quasi equites sic current.
The army's appearance is like horses, and they run like horsemen.
5 Sicut sonitus quadrigarum super capita montium exilient, sicut sonitus flammæ ignis devorantis stipulam, velut populus fortis præparatus ad prælium.
They jump with a noise like that of chariots on the tops of the mountains, like the noise of fiery flames that devour the stubble, like a mighty army ready for battle.
6 A facie eius cruciabuntur populi: omnes vultus redigentur in ollam.
At their presence people are in anguish and all their faces become pale.
7 Sicut fortes current: quasi viri bellatores ascendent murum: viri in viis suis gradientur, et non declinabunt a semitis suis.
They run like mighty warriors; they climb the walls like soldiers; they march, every one in step, and do not break their ranks.
8 Unusquisque fratrem suum non coarctabit, singuli in calle suo ambulabunt: sed et per fenestras cadent, et non demolientur.
Neither does one thrust another aside; they march, each in his path; they break through the defenses and do not fall out of line.
9 Urbem ingredientur, in muro current: domos conscendent, per fenestras intrabunt quasi fur.
They rush on the city, they run on the wall, they climb in the houses, and they go through the windows like thieves.
10 A facie eius contremuit terra, moti sunt cæli: sol et luna obtenebrati sunt et stellæ retraxerunt splendorem suum.
The earth shakes in front of them, the heavens tremble, the sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars stop shining.
11 Et Dominus dedit vocem suam ante faciem exercitus sui: quia multa sunt nimis castra eius, quia fortia et facientia verbum eius: magnus enim dies Domini, et terribilis valde: et quis sustinebit eum?
Yahweh raises his voice in front of his army, for his warriors are very numerous; for they are strong, those who carry out his commands. For the day of Yahweh is great and very terrible. Who can survive it?
12 Nunc ergo dicit Dominus: Convertimini ad me in toto corde vestro in ieiunio, et in fletu, et in planctu.
“Yet even now,” says Yahweh, “Return to me with all your heart. Fast, weep, and mourn.”
13 Et scindite corda vestra, et non vestimenta vestra, et convertimini ad Dominum Deum vestrum: quia benignus et misericors est, patiens et multæ misericordiæ, et præstabilis super malitia.
Tear your heart and not only your garments, and return to Yahweh your God. For he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abundant in covenant faithfulness, and he would like to turn from inflicting punishment.
14 Quis scit si convertatur, et ignoscat, et relinquat post se benedictionem, sacrificium, et libamen Domino Deo vestro?
Who knows? Will he perhaps turn and have compassion, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for Yahweh your God?
15 Canite tuba in Sion, sanctificate ieiunium, vocate cœtum.
Blow the trumpet in Zion, call for a holy fast, and call a holy assembly.
16 congregate populum, sanctificate ecclesiam, coadunate senes, congregate parvulos, et sugentes ubera: egrediatur sponsus de cubili suo, et sponsa de thalamo suo.
Gather the people, call for the holy assembly. Assemble the elders, gather the children and the nursing infants. Let the bridegrooms come out of their rooms, and the brides out of their bridal chambers.
17 Inter vestibulum et altare plorabunt sacerdotes ministri Domini: et dicent: Parce Domine, parce populo tuo: et ne des hereditatem tuam in opprobrium ut dominentur eis nationes. quare dicunt in populis: Ubi est Deus eorum?
Let the priests, the servants of Yahweh, weep between the porch and the altar. Let them say, “Spare your people, Yahweh, and do not make your inheritance into an object of scorn, that the nations mock them. Why should they say among the nations, 'Where is their God?'”
18 Zelatus est Dominus terram suam, et pepercit populo suo:
Then Yahweh was zealous for his land and had pity on his people.
19 Et respondit Dominus, et dixit populo suo: Ecce ego mittam vobis frumentum, et vinum, et oleum, et replebimini eis: et non dabo vos ultra opprobrium in Gentibus.
Yahweh answered his people, “Look, I will send you grain, new wine, and oil. You will be satisfied with them, and I will no longer make you a disgrace among the nations.
20 Et eum, qui ab Aquilone est, procul faciam a vobis: et expellam eum in terram inviam, et desertam: faciem eius contra mare Orientale, et extremum eius ad mare novissimum: et ascendet fœtor eius, et ascendet putredo eius, quia superbe egit.
I will remove the northern attackers far from you, and will drive them into a dry and abandoned land. The front of their army will go into the eastern sea, and the rear into the western sea. Its stench will rise, and its bad smell will rise.” Indeed, he has done great things.
21 Noli timere terra, exulta et lætare: quoniam magnificavit Dominus ut faceret.
Do not fear, land, be glad and rejoice, for Yahweh will do great things.
22 Nolite timere animalia regionis: quia germinaverunt speciosa deserti, quia lignum attulit fructum suum, ficus, et vinea dederunt virtutem suam.
Do not fear, beasts of the field, for the pastures of the wilderness will sprout, the trees will bear their fruit, and the fig trees and the vines will yield their full harvest.
23 Et filii Sion exultate, et lætamini in Domino Deo vestro: quia dedit vobis doctorem iustitiæ, et descendere faciet ad vos imbrem matutinum et serotinum sicut in principio.
Be glad, people of Zion, and rejoice in Yahweh your God. For he will give you the autumn rain in due course and bring down showers for you, the autumn rain and the spring rain as before.
24 Et implebuntur areæ frumento, et redundabunt torcularia vino, et oleo.
The threshing floors will be full of wheat, and the vats will overflow with new wine and oil.
25 Et reddam vobis annos, quos comedit locusta, bruchus, et rubigo, et eruca: fortitudo mea magna, quam misi in vos.
“I will restore to you the years of crops that the swarming locust has eaten —the great locust, the devouring locust, and the destroying locust— my mighty army that I sent among you.
26 Et comedetis vescentes, et saturabimini: et laudabitis nomen Domini Dei vestri, qui fecit mirabilia vobiscum: et non confundetur populus meus in sempiternum.
You will eat plentifully and be full, and praise the name of Yahweh your God, who has done wonders among you, and I will never again bring shame on my people.
27 Et scietis quia in medio Israel ego sum: et ego Dominus Deus vester, et non est amplius: et non confundetur populus meus in æternum.
You will know that I am among Israel, and that I am Yahweh your God, and there is none else, and I will never bring shame on my people.
28 Et erit post hæc: effundam spiritum meum super omnem carnem: et prophetabunt filii vestri, et filiæ vestræ: senes vestri somnia somniabunt, et iuvenes vestri visiones videbunt.
It will come about afterward that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
29 Sed et super servos meos, et ancillas in diebus illis effundam spiritum meum.
Also on servants and female servants, in those days I will pour out my Spirit.
30 Et dabo prodigia in cælo, et in terra: sanguinem, et ignem, et vaporem fumi.
I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood, fire, and pillars of smoke.
31 Sol convertetur in tenebras, et luna in sanguinem: antequam veniat dies Domini magnus, et horribilis.
The sun will turn into darkness and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of Yahweh comes.
32 Et erit: omnis qui invocaverit nomen Domini, salvus erit: quia in monte Sion, et in Ierusalem erit salvatio, sicut dixit Dominus, et in residuis, quos Dominus vocaverit.
It will be that everyone who calls on the name of Yahweh will be saved. For on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be those who escape, as Yahweh has said, and among the survivors, those whom Yahweh calls.

< Joël Propheta 2 >