Joel 2:16-18

International Children’s Bible

¹⁶ Bring the people together.
    Make the meeting holy for the Lord.
Bring together the elders.
    Bring together the children,
    even babies that still feed at their mothers’ breasts.
The bridegroom should come from his room.
    The bride should come from her bedroom.
¹⁷ The priests, the Lord’s servants, should cry.
    They should cry between the altar and entrance to the Temple.
They should say, “Lord, have mercy on your people.
    Don’t let them be put to shame.
    Don’t let other nations make fun of them.
Don’t let people in other nations ask,
    ‘Where is their God?’”

¹⁸ Then the Lord became concerned about his land.
    He felt sorry for his people.