Joel 2:11b-14
Truly the day of the Lord is great;
terrible indeed - who can endure it?
Yet even now, says the Lord,
return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning:
rend your hearts and not your clothing.
Return to the Lord, your God,
For He is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love,
and relents from punishing.
Who knows whether he will not turn and relent,
and leave a blessing behind him,
a grain offering and a drink offering
for the Lord, your God?
This is a significant chapter in the Book of the Twelve (aka, the minor prophets): Many of the themes of the Twelve show up here, and other books quote from this passage:
“the day of the Lord:” the phrase occurs 17 times in the twelve - mostly in Joel and Zephaniah
“who can endure it:” cf Amos 7:10, Malachi 3:2
“Return to the Lord your God:” cf Hosea 14:1
“Who knows? He may reconsider and change his plan:” Jonah 3:9
“He is merciful and compassionate, patient, and always ready to forgive:” Jonah 4:2
“grain offerings and wine offerings:” Amos 5:22
The book of the twelve actually functions as a literary unit: the individual books share many of the same themes, and often use the same language.
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