Old men shall dream dreams (Elgar / Joel 3)

   If we were to use the liturgical readings for the extended Vigil of Pentecost Sunday, we would hear four Old Testament readings (not counting psalms), including this one, from the Book of the Prophet Joel, which the British composer Sir Edward William Elgar set to music in his oratorio The Kingdom, based on the story of the early disciples at the time of Pentecost and beyond.   

 Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, 

be this known to you, and give ear unto my words: 

This is that which was spoken by the Prophet, 

--It shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, 

I will pour forth of My Spirit upon all flesh: 

and your sons and daughters shall prophesy, 

and your young men shall see visions, 

and your old men shall dream dreams; 

and it shall be that whosoever shall call 

on the Name of the Lord shall be saved. 

You can hear this piece sung by the Hallé Choir by clicking on the video below; the passage, sung by the character of Peter, begins at approximately 42:50.  The entire text is accessible via the link below.

Image source:  El Greco, Pentecost (detail), ca. 1596

Text source (complete libretto - see page 6)

Video source