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.