^{2 Ref} For a day of dark and deep shade is near, a day of cloud and black night: like a black cloud a great and strong people is covering the mountains; there has never been any like them and will not be after them again, from generation to generation.

^{3 Ref} Before them fire sends destruction, and after them flame is burning: the land is like the garden of Eden before them, and after them an unpeopled waste; truly, nothing has been kept safe from them.

^{4 Ref} Their form is like the form of horses, and they are running like war-horses.

^{5 Ref} Like the sound of war-carriages they go jumping on the tops of the mountains; like the noise of a flame of fire burning up the grain-stems, like a strong people lined up for the fight.

^{6 Ref} At their coming the people are bent with pain: all faces become red together.

^{7 Ref} They are running like strong men, they go over the wall like men of war; every man goes straight on his way, their lines are not broken.

^{8 Ref} No one is pushing against another; everyone goes straight on his way: bursting through the sword points, their order is not broken.

^{9 Ref} They make a rush on the town, running on the wall; they go up into the houses and in through the windows like a thief.

^{10 Ref} The earth is troubled before them and the heavens are shaking: the sun and the moon have become dark, and the stars keep back their shining:

^{11 Ref} And the Lord is thundering before his forces; for very great is his army; for he is strong who gives effect to his word: for the day of the Lord is great and greatly to be feared, and who has strength against it?