< Joel 3 >

1 For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I will cause to return the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem,
"For, look, in those days, and in that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem,
2 Then will I assemble all the nations, and I will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and I will hold judgment with them there because of my people and my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and for my land [which] they have divided out.
I will gather all nations, and will bring them down into the Valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will execute judgment on them there for my people, and for my heritage, Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations. They have divided my land,
3 And for my people did they cast lots; and gave a boy for a harlot, and sold a girl for wine, and drank it.
and have cast lots for my people, and have given a boy for a prostitute, and sold a girl for wine, that they may drink.
4 And also ye, what have ye to do with me, O Tyre, and Zidon, and all ye districts of Philistia? is this the recompense which ye repay me? or do ye only commence to render me evil?— swiftly and speedily will I bring back your recompense upon your own head;
"Yes, and what are you to me, Tyre, and Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia? Will you repay me? And if you repay me, I will swiftly and speedily return your repayment on your own head.
5 Because my silver and my gold have ye taken, and the handsomest of my precious things have ye carried into your temples;
Because you have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried my finest treasures into your temples,
6 And the children of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have ye sold unto the sons of the Jevanim, in order to remove them far from their borders.
and have sold the people of Judah and the people of Jerusalem to the people of the Greeks, that you may remove them far from their border.
7 Behold, I will awaken them out of the place whither ye have sold them, and I will bring back your recompense upon your own head;
Look, I will stir them up out of the place where you have sold them, and will return your repayment on your own head;
8 And I will deliver your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the Sabeans, to a nation far off; for the Lord hath spoken it.
and I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hands of the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the men of Sheba, to a faraway nation, for the LORD has spoken it."
9 Proclaim ye this among the nations, Prepare war, wake up the mighty men; let them draw near; let them come up—all the men of war.
Proclaim this among the nations: "Prepare for war. Stir up the mighty men. Let all the warriors draw near. Let them come up.
10 Beat your plough-shares into swords, and your pruning-knives into spears: let the weak say, I am a hero.
Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, 'I am strong.'
11 Assemble hastily together, and come, all ye nations from every side, and gather yourselves together: there doth the Lord strike down thy mighty ones.
Hurry and come, all you surrounding nations, and gather yourselves together." Cause your mighty ones to come down there, LORD.
12 Let the nations awake, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat; for there will I sit to judge all the nations from every side.
"Let the nations arouse themselves, and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; for there will I sit to judge all the surrounding nations.
13 Put forth the sickle; for the harvest is ripe: come, tread down [the grapes]; for the press is full; the vats overflow; for great is their wickedness.
Put in the sickle; for the harvest is ripe. Come, tread, for the winepress is full, the vats overflow, for their wickedness is great."
14 Multitudes, multitudes are in the valley of decision; for near is the day of the Lord in the valley of decision.
Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision. For the day of the LORD is near, in the valley of decision.
15 Sun and moon are obscured, and stars withdraw their brightness.
The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining.
16 And the Lord will cry aloud out of Zion, and from Jerusalem will he send forth his voice; and the heavens and the earth shall quake; but the Lord will be a refuge for his people, and a stronghold for the children of Israel.
The LORD will roar from Zion, and thunder from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth will shake; but the LORD will be a refuge to his people, and a stronghold to the children of Israel.
17 So shall ye know that I am the Lord your God, dwelling on Zion, my holy mount: and Jerusalem shall be holy, and strangers shall not pass through her any more.
"So you will know that I am the LORD your God, who dwells in Zion, my holy mountain. Then Jerusalem will be holy, and no strangers will pass through her any more.
18 And it came to pass on that day, that the mountains shall drop down sweet new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the ravines of Judah shall flow with water; and a spring shall come forth out of the house of the Lord, and shall water the valley of Shittim.
It will happen in that day, that the mountains will drop down sweet wine, the hills will flow with milk, all the brooks of Judah will flow with waters, and a fountain will come forth from the house of the LORD, and will water the Valley of Shittim.
19 Egypt shall become a desolate land, and Edom shall become a desolate wilderness; because of the violence against the children of Judah, in whose land they have shed innocent blood.
Egypt will be a desolation, and Edom will be a desolate wilderness, for the violence done to the people of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land.
20 But Judah shall be inhabited for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation.
But Judah will be inhabited forever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation.
21 And I will avenge their blood that I have not yet avenged; for the Lord dwelleth in Zion.
And I will pardon their bloodguilt, which I have not pardoned, for the LORD dwells in Zion."

< Joel 3 >