Joel 3:1–5

God Is a Safe Hiding Place

1–3  3 “In those days, yes, at that very time

when I put life back together again for Judah and Jerusalem,

I’ll assemble all the godless nations.

I’ll lead them down into Judgment Valley

And put them all on trial, and judge them one and all

because of their treatment of my own people Israel.

They scattered my people all over the pagan world

and grabbed my land for themselves.

They threw dice for my people

and used them for barter.

They would trade a boy for a whore,

sell a girl for a bottle of wine when they wanted a drink.

4–8  “As for you, Tyre and Sidon and Philistia,

why should I bother with you?

Are you trying to get back at me

for something I did to you?

If you are, forget it.

I’ll see to it that it boomerangs on you.

You robbed me, cleaned me out of silver and gold,

carted off everything valuable to furnish your own temples.