The book of Joel begins with devastation in the land, but through the ashes, God calls his people back. The vine is dry, the fig tree mourns The fields lie stripped in the morning What the cutter left, the swarmer came And the green earth disappeared The priests stand silent at the doors No grain, no wine for offering Children ask where blessing went And the elders answer in tears Blow the trumpet in Zion Let every heart awake The day is drawing nearer And the mountains start to shake Rend your heart, not your garment Come back while mercy calls He is slow to anger, He is mighty when we fall Before the sun goes dark, before the moon turns red Return unto the Lord and live again The army moves like fire at dawn Before their meeting's garden Behind them only wilderness A flame across the plain The earth gives way beneath their feet The heavens tremble over Who can stand before that day when judgment speaks his name Blow the trumpet in Zion, call the bridegroom from his room Let the weeping priest cry out between the altar and the gloom Rend your heart, not your garment, come back while mercy calls He is slow to anger, He is mighty when we fall Before the sun goes dark, before the moon turns red Return unto the Lord and live again Then the Lord will answer, then the rain will come Former rain and latter rain falling on everyone The threshing floor shall overflow, the vats shall rise with wine And I will restore the years the locust left behind Sons and daughters prophesy, old men dream and wonder Young men see what heaven sees when the spirit pours like thunder Blood and fire, smoking signs, the nation's indecision But all who call upon his name shall stand in his salvation Rend your heart, not your garment Come back while mercy calls He is slow to anger, he is mighty when we fall Though the sun grows dark, though the moon turns red Call upon the Lord and live again The fields will sing where ruin slept The vine will bear again The Lord is in the midst of us And He will dwell with men