Græshoppeplagen ses som et tegn på og forvarsel om Guds dom
1Blæs i vædderhornet fra Zion. Lad præsterne sende signal fra Herrens hellige bjerg. Alle mennesker vil skælve, for dommens dag er nær.
2Det bliver en mørk og dyster dag med kulsorte skyer på himlen. Som morgenlyset breder sig over bjergene, bevæger en mægtig fjendehær sig frem. Aldrig før har man set så vældig en hær, og aldrig siden skal man se dens lige. 3Den stormer frem som en steppebrand. Foran den ligger landet grønt og frugtbart som Edens have, bagved den er landet øde som en ørken. Intet undslipper. 4Det ligner en hær af heste, som stormer frem til angreb. 5De springer hen over bjergene med en larm som stridsvogne i fuld fart. Man hører en knitren som en stubmark, der brænder. De rykker frem som en mægtig hær i kampformation. 6Folkeslag gribes af frygt for dem, og alle ansigter bliver ligblege.
7De stormer frem som veltrænede soldater og forcerer enhver forhindring. De styrer lige mod målet uden at komme ud af kurs. 8De går ikke i vejen for hinanden, men holder retningen. De trænger frem gennem en regn af spyd, og lader sig ikke standse. 9De kaster sig over byen. De løber oven på bymuren. De trænger ind i husene. De klatrer gennem vinduerne, som var de tyve. 10Jorden skælver foran dem, og himlens kræfter rystes. Solen og månen formørkes, og stjernerne holder op med at skinne.
11Herren fører an med et højt kommandoråb, for det er hans mægtige, talløse hær. En enorm skare står parat til at udføre hans ordrer. Det bliver en frygtelig dag, når Herren fælder sin dom. Hvem kan udholde den dag?
Et kald til omvendelse
12Herren siger: „Vend om til mig, mens der endnu er tid! Søg mig af hele jeres hjerte med anger, gråd og faste. 13Sønderriv jeres hjerter, ikke jeres tøj.”2,13 Det var skik dengang at sønderrive sin yderkjortel som tegn på sorg og fortvivlelse.
Vend om til Herren, jeres Gud, for han er nådig og barmhjertig. Der skal meget til, før han bliver vred, og han omslutter jer med sin trofaste kærlighed. Han er parat til at eftergive straffen. 14Hvem ved? Det kan være, han standser straffen og velsigner jer i stedet, så der igen kan bringes afgrødeofre og drikofre til Herren, jeres Gud.
15Blæs nu I vædderhornet fra Zions bjerg! Kald folket sammen til faste og bod. 16Alle skal samles, både gamle og børn, ja selv spædbørn. Lad brudepar afbryde deres fest for at komme herhen.
17Guds tjenere, præsterne, skal stille sig op mellem indgangen til templet og alteret, så de grædende kan gå i forbøn for landet. „Herre, skån dit folk,” skal de bede. „Lad ikke de andre folkeslag håne os og sige: ‚Hvor er jeres Gud, som skulle hjælpe jer?’ ”
Herren griber ind
18Da de havde gjort det, fik Herren medlidenhed med sit folk, og viste sin nidkærhed for det land, han havde givet dem. 19Han svarede på sit folks bøn og sagde: „Jeg vil give jer korn, olivenolie og vin, så der er rigeligt til alle. I skal ikke længere hånes af de andre folkeslag. 20Jeg vil fjerne hæren af græshopper fra nord. Størsteparten drives ud i ørkenen, mens fortropperne drukner i Det Døde Hav og bagtropperne i Middelhavet. Der bliver en voldsom stank af død.”
Herren har gjort store ting! 21Nu skal alle glæde og fryde sig, for Herren har gjort store ting for os. 22Dyrene glæder sig, for græsset bliver grønt, og træerne bærer frugt. Figentræer og vinstokke giver igen en rigelig høst.
23Jerusalem, fryd dig over Herren, din Gud, for regnen, han sender, er et tegn på hans godhed. Han sender rigeligt med efterårsregn og forårsregn som før. 24Tærskepladsen skal fyldes med korn, persekarret flyde over med druesaft og olivenpressen med olie.
25Herren siger: „Jeg vil erstatte det, I mistede i de år, da græshopperne åd jeres afgrøder. Det var mig, der sendte den store hær imod jer. 26-27Men nu skal I spise og blive mætte, og I skal takke og lovprise mig for den store nåde, jeg har vist jer. Aldrig igen skal mit folk opleve en lignende katastrofe. I skal få at se, at jeg er midt iblandt mit folk, Israel, og at jeg alene er Herren, jeres Gud.
1Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;2.1 trumpet: or, cornet 2A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.2.2 of many…: Heb. of generation and generation 3A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them. 4The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run. 5Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array. 6Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness.2.6 blackness: Heb. pot 7They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks: 8Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.2.8 sword: or, dart 9They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief. 10The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining: 11And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?
12¶ Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: 13And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. 14Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?
15¶ Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: 16Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet. 17Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?2.17 rule over: or, use a byword against
18¶ Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people. 19Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen: 20But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things.2.20 hath…: Heb. hath magnified to do
21¶ Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things.2.21 will…: Heb. hath magnified to do 22Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength. 23Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.2.23 the former rain moderately: or, a teacher of righteousness2.23 moderately: Heb. according to righteousness 24And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil. 25And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. 26And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. 27And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.
28¶ And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: 29And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. 30And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. 31The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come. 32And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.
