Joel 2:16-18

New International Reader's Version

¹⁶ Bring them together.
    Set all of them apart to me.
Bring together the elders.
    Gather the children and the babies
    who are still nursing.
Let the groom leave his bedroom.
    Let the bride leave their marriage bed.
¹⁷ Let the priests who serve the Lord weep.
    Let them cry between the temple porch and the altar.
Let them say, “Lord, spare your people.
    Don’t let others make fun of them.
    Don’t let the nations laugh at them.
Don’t let them tease your people and say,
    ‘Where is their God?’ ”

¹⁸ Then the Lord was concerned for his land.
    He took pity on his people.