Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version “Even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” New Living Translation That is why the LORD says, “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. English Standard Version “Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; Berean Standard Bible “Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.” King James Bible Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: New King James Version “Now, therefore,” says the LORD, “Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” New American Standard Bible “Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “Return to Me with all your heart, And with fasting, weeping, and mourning; NASB 1995 “Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “Return to Me with all your heart, And with fasting, weeping and mourning; NASB 1977 “Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “Return to Me with all your heart, And with fasting, weeping, and mourning; Legacy Standard Bible “Yet even now,” declares Yahweh, “Return to Me with all your heart And with fasting, weeping, and wailing; Amplified Bible “Even now,” says the LORD, “Turn and come to Me with all your heart [in genuine repentance], With fasting and weeping and mourning [until every barrier is removed and the broken fellowship is restored]; Christian Standard Bible Even now — this is the LORD’s declaration — turn to me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Holman Christian Standard Bible Even now— this is the LORD’s declaration— turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning. American Standard Version Yet even now, saith Jehovah, turn ye unto me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: Contemporary English Version The LORD said: It isn't too late. You can still return to me with all your heart. Start crying and mourning! Go without eating. English Revised Version Yet even now, saith the LORD, turn ye unto me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: GOD'S WORD® Translation "But even now," declares the LORD, "return to me with all your heart- with fasting, crying, and mourning." Good News Translation "But even now," says the LORD, "repent sincerely and return to me with fasting and weeping and mourning. International Standard Version "Yet even now," declares the LORD, "Turn back to me with your whole heart, with fasting, tears, and mourning. NET Bible "Yet even now," the LORD says, "return to me with all your heart--with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Tear your hearts, not just your garments!" New Heart English Bible "Yet even now," says the LORD, "turn to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning." Webster's Bible Translation Therefore also now, saith the LORD, Turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Bible“Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.” World English Bible “Yet even now,” says Yahweh, “turn to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning.” Literal Translations Literal Standard Version“And also now,” a declaration of YHWH, "" “Turn back to Me with all your heart, "" And with fasting, and with weeping, "" And with lamentation.” Young's Literal Translation And also now -- an affirmation of Jehovah, Turn ye back unto Me with all your heart, And with fasting, and with weeping, And with lamentation. Smith's Literal Translation And also now, says Jehovah, Turn back even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping and with wailing. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleNow therefore saith the Lord: Be converted to me with all your heart, in fasting, and in weeping, and in mourning. Catholic Public Domain Version Now, therefore, the Lord says: “Be converted to me with your whole heart, in fasting and weeping and mourning.” New American Bible Yet even now—oracle of the LORD— return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning. New Revised Standard Version Yet even now, says the LORD, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleTherefore now, says the LORD, return to me with all your heart, and with fasting and with weeping and with mourning; Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Therefore LORD JEHOVAH says, “Return to me from all your heart in fasting and in weeping and in mourning OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Yet even now, saith the LORD, Turn ye unto Me with all your heart, And with fasting, and with weeping, and with lamentation; Brenton Septuagint Translation Now therefore, saith the Lord your God, turn to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with lamentation: Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Return with All Your Heart12“Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.” 13So rend your hearts and not your garments, and return to the LORD your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. And He relents from sending disaster.… Cross References Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. Isaiah 55:6-7 Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. / Let the wicked man forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon. Hosea 6:1 Come, let us return to the LORD. For He has torn us to pieces, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bind up our wounds. Zechariah 1:3 So tell the people that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Return to Me, declares the LORD of Hosts, and I will return to you, says the LORD of Hosts.’ James 4:8-10 Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. / Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter to mourning, and your joy to gloom. / Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you. 2 Chronicles 7:14 and if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. Jeremiah 4:1 “If you will return, O Israel, return to Me,” declares the LORD. “If you will remove your detestable idols from My sight and no longer waver, Ezekiel 18:30-32 Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, so that your iniquity will not become your downfall. / Cast away from yourselves all the transgressions you have committed, and fashion for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, O house of Israel? / For I take no pleasure in anyone’s death, declares the Lord GOD. So repent and live! Matthew 4:17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” Acts 3:19 Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away, Deuteronomy 4:29-31 But if from there you will seek the LORD your God, you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. / When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the LORD your God and listen to His voice. / For the LORD your God is a merciful God; He will not abandon you or destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers, which He swore to them by oath. Lamentations 3:40-41 Let us examine and test our ways, and turn back to the LORD. / Let us lift up our hearts and hands to God in heaven: Malachi 3:7 Yet from the days of your fathers, you have turned away from My statutes and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD of Hosts. “But you ask, ‘How can we return?’ Psalm 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. 2 Corinthians 7:10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. Treasury of Scripture Therefore also now, said the LORD, turn you even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: turn. Deuteronomy 4:29,30 But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul… 1 Samuel 7:3 And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines. 1 Kings 8:47-49 Yet if they shall bethink themselves in the land whither they were carried captives, and repent, and make supplication unto thee in the land of them that carried them captives, saying, We have sinned, and have done perversely, we have committed wickedness; … with fasting. Judges 20:26 Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. 1 Samuel 7:6 And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh. 2 Chronicles 20:3,4 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah… Jump to Previous Affirmation Declares Fasting Food Heart Keeping Lamentation Mourning Turn WeepingJump to Next Affirmation Declares Fasting Food Heart Keeping Lamentation Mourning Turn WeepingJoel 2 1. He shows unto Zion the terribleness of God's judgment.12. He exhorts to repentance; 15. prescribes a fast; 18. promises a blessing thereon. 21. He comforts Zion with present, 28. and future blessings. “Yet even now,” declares the LORD This phrase emphasizes the immediacy and urgency of God's call to repentance. Despite the people's past sins and the impending judgment, God offers a chance for redemption. The use of "declares the LORD" underscores the authority and seriousness of the message, as it is a direct communication from God. This reflects God's enduring patience and willingness to forgive, reminiscent of His character throughout the Old Testament, such as in Isaiah 1:18 and Ezekiel 18:32. “return to Me with all your heart” with fasting, weeping, and mourning.” Persons / Places / Events 1. The LORD (Yahweh)The covenant God of Israel, who calls His people to repentance. 2. Joel The prophet who delivers God's message to the people of Judah, urging them to return to God. 3. Judah The southern kingdom of Israel, facing a locust plague and potential invasion, symbolizing divine judgment. 4. Locust Plague A devastating event described earlier in Joel, symbolizing both literal and metaphorical destruction. 5. Repentance The central theme of this passage, emphasizing a heartfelt return to God. Teaching Points Heartfelt RepentanceTrue repentance involves the heart, not just outward actions. It requires sincerity and a genuine turning back to God. The Role of Fasting Fasting is a spiritual discipline that accompanies repentance, symbolizing humility and dependence on God. Emotional Expression in Repentance Weeping and mourning are appropriate responses to sin, reflecting a deep awareness of one's need for God's mercy. God's Invitation Despite judgment, God extends an invitation to return to Him, highlighting His grace and desire for reconciliation. Urgency of Repentance The phrase "Yet even now" underscores the immediacy and urgency of responding to God's call without delay. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from Joel 2What are Septuagesima, Sexagesima, and Quinquagesima Sundays? What does the Bible teach about impurity? What is the Bible's view on penance? What does the Bible say about penitence?(12) Saith the Lord.--The word saith is here no common word in the Hebrew. It implies an authoritative and most weighty utterance, as in Psalm 110:1, "The Lord said unto my Lord." "The word is used in almost every instance of the immediate utterance of God Himself; more rarely of that of the prophet or inspired organ of the Divine revelations" (Perowne, Commentary on the Psalms, vol. ii., p. 300). Turn ye even to me.--The question, "Who can abide it?" is left unanswered. But the only possible reply is inferred in the touching appeal which the prophet is inspired by Jehovah to make, that His righteous anger may be averted. Verses 12-14. - The judgment of the locusts was typical of the great day of judgment. The tartars of that day were designed to bring the people to repentance. Thus judgment was mingled with mercy. Verse 12. - Turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with great fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning. At this period of sore judgment God, by the prophet, calls upon the people to return and repent, to fast and to weep, to grieve inwardly and mourn outwardly for sin. He also instructs them how to engage in the duty of humiliation aright and acceptably. The humiliation was to be that of the heart - sorrow of heart for the sins by which they had offended God, inward shame on account of those iniquities by which they had wronged their own souls and marred their own best interests. But while there behoved to be this inward contrition, outward expressions of it were also required. Genuine sorrow and shame for sin were to be accompanied by fasting, tears of penitence, and other indications of mourning. With all your heart. Kimchi comments thus: "That your repentance be not with a heart and a heart."Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Yet evenוְגַם־ (wə·ḡam-) Conjunctive waw | Conjunction Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and now, עַתָּה֙ (‘at·tāh) Adverb Strong's 6258: At this time declares נְאֻם־ (nə·’um-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 5002: An oracle the LORD, יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel return שֻׁ֥בוּ (šu·ḇū) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again to Me עָדַ֖י (‘ā·ḏay) Preposition | first person common singular Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while with all בְּכָל־ (bə·ḵāl) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every your heart, לְבַבְכֶ֑ם (lə·ḇaḇ·ḵem) Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine plural Strong's 3824: Inner man, mind, will, heart with fasting, וּבְצ֥וֹם (ū·ḇə·ṣō·wm) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 6685: Fasting, a fast weeping, וּבְבְכִ֖י (ū·ḇə·ḇə·ḵî) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 1065: A weeping, a dripping and mourning. וּבְמִסְפֵּֽד׃ (ū·ḇə·mis·pêḏ) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4553: A lamentation Links Joel 2:12 NIVJoel 2:12 NLT Joel 2:12 ESV Joel 2:12 NASB Joel 2:12 KJV Joel 2:12 BibleApps.com Joel 2:12 Biblia Paralela Joel 2:12 Chinese Bible Joel 2:12 French Bible Joel 2:12 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Joel 2:12 Yet even now says Yahweh turn (Jl Joe.) |
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