³     For a day is near,
    the day of the Lord is near;
it will be a day of clouds,
    a time of doom^[a] for the nations.^(A)

² a day of darkness and gloom,
    a day of clouds and thick darkness!
Like blackness spread upon the mountains,
    a great and powerful army comes;
their like has never been from of old,
    nor will be again after them
    in ages to come.^(A)