Joel 3:1–14

Yahweh’s Judgment on the Nations

3^a For look! In those days, and in that time, when I will return^b the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, ²I will gather all the nations, and I will bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat, and I will argue a case against them^c there concerning my people and my inheritance Israel whom they have scattered among the nations, and my land that they have divided. ³For my people they cast lots,^d and they traded^e the male child for the prostitute, and the female child they sold for wine and they drank it.

⁴What are you to me, O Tyre and O Sidon, and all of the regions of Philistia? Are you repaying to me what is deserved? If you are recompensing me, I will return swiftly and quickly what you deserve on your head! ⁵For you have taken my silver and my gold, and my beautiful treasures you have carried into your temples. ⁶And the sons of Judah and Jerusalem you sold to the sons of the Greeks, in order to remove them from their border. ⁷Look! I am rousing them from the place where you have sold them, and I will return what you deserve on your head! ⁸I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans and to a nation far away, for Yahweh has spoken.

Yahweh’s Judgment in the Valley of Jehoshaphat

⁹Proclaim this among the nations:

Prepare for war!^f

Stir up the mighty warriors;

let them approach and come up;

let all the men of war approach.

¹⁰Beat your cutting tools of iron into swords

and your pruning hooks into spears;

let the weakling say, ‘I am a mighty warrior!’

¹¹Hurry and come,

all the nations, from all around,

and gather yourselves there.

Bring down your mighty warriors, O Yahweh!

¹²Let the nations be roused and let them come up

to the valley of Jehoshaphat,

for there I will sit to judge

all the nations from all around.

¹³Send forth the sickle,

for the harvest is ripe!

Go tread,

for the winepress is full!

The vats overflow,

because their evil is great!

¹⁴Commotion, commotion

in the valley of decision!

For the day of Yahweh is near

in the valley of decision!