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11 The Lord’s voice thunders
    at the head of his army.
Mighty and numerous are his forces,
    and they enforce his orders.
Great is the day of the Lord
    and exceedingly terrible;
    who can endure it?

Rend Your Hearts and Not Your Garments[a]

12 Yet even now, says the Lord,
    return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.
13 Rend your hearts and not your garments,
    and turn back to the Lord, your God.
For he is gracious and merciful,
    slow to anger, rich in kindness,
    and always prepared to relent from punishing.

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Footnotes

  1. Joel 2:12 The moment has come to cry out to God; however, the collective liturgy must not be an external rite but rather must signify a collective movement of conversion. The Lord regards the inner part of humans rather than their outward appearances.

11 The Lord(A) thunders(B)
    at the head of his army;(C)
his forces are beyond number,
    and mighty is the army that obeys his command.
The day of the Lord is great;(D)
    it is dreadful.
    Who can endure it?(E)

Rend Your Heart

12 “Even now,” declares the Lord,
    “return(F) to me with all your heart,(G)
    with fasting and weeping and mourning.”

13 Rend your heart(H)
    and not your garments.(I)
Return(J) to the Lord your God,
    for he is gracious and compassionate,(K)
slow to anger and abounding in love,(L)
    and he relents from sending calamity.(M)

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