Joel 2:13

Repentance Grace Mercy and compassion Patience

¹¹ The LORD raises His voice in the presence of His army. Indeed, His camp is very large, for mighty are those who obey His command. For the Day of the LORD is great and very dreadful. Who can endure it?

¹² “Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.”

So 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.

¹⁴ Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave a blessing behind Him— grain and drink offerings for the LORD your God.

¹⁵ Blow the ram’s horn in Zion, consecrate a fast, proclaim a sacred assembly.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: So 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.
KJV: And 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.
WEB: Tear your heart and not your garments, and turn to the LORD, your God; for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, and relents from sending calamity.
ASV: and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto Jehovah your God; for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
DARBY: and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto Jehovah your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great loving-kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
BLB: And rend your⁺ heart and not your⁺ garments. May you return to YHWH your⁺ God, for He [is] gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, and great in loving devotion, and relenting from harm.

ÅB: og sønderriv deres hjerte og ikke deres klær, og vend om til Herren deres Gud! For han er nådig og barmhjertig, langmodig og rik på miskunnhet, og han angrer det onde.
OTB: Riv hjertet og ikke klærne deres.
Vend tilbake til Herren deres Gud,
for han er nådig og barmhjertig,
sen til vrede og rik på kjærlighet,
og han angrer på å sende ulykke.
B1930: og sønderriv eders hjerte og ikke eders klær, og vend om til Herren eders Gud! For han er nådig og barmhjertig, langmodig og rik på miskunnhet, og han angrer det onde.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Psalms 86:15
But You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness.
Read in context
Psalms 34:18
The LORD is near to the brokenhearted; He saves the contrite in spirit.
Read in context
Isaiah 57:15
For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in a high and holy place, and with the oppressed and humble in spirit, to restore the spirit of the lowly and revive the heart of the contrite.
Read in context
Exodus 34:6–7
Then the LORD passed in front of Moses and called out: “The LORD, the LORD God, is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness,
Read in context
Matthew 5:3–4
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Read in context
Micah 7:18
Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance— who does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in loving devotion?
Read in context
Psalms 86:5
For You, O Lord, are kind and forgiving, rich in loving devotion to all who call on You.
Read in context
James 1:19–20
My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,
Read in context