All the inhabitants of the earth will tremble,
    because the day of the Lord has come,
because it is near—
²     a day of darkness and gloom,
    a day of clouds and thick darkness.
Like blackness spreading over the mountain,
    a great and mighty army comes,
such as was never before,
    and will never be again,
    even through the years of all generations.

³ Before them fire devours,
    and behind them a flame blazes;
the land is like the garden of Eden before them,
    but behind them a desolate wasteland,
    and nothing escapes them.