Joel 3

The Nations Judged

^*“In those days and at that time,

when I restore the fortunes^a of Judah^b and Jerusalem,

I will gather^c all nations

and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat.^d

There I will enter into judgment^e against them

concerning my inheritance, my people Israel,

for they scattered^f my people among the nations

and divided up my land.

They cast lots^g for my people

and traded boys for prostitutes;

they sold girls for wine^h

that they might drink.

“Now what have you against me, Tyre and Sidonⁱ and all you regions of Philistia?^j Are you repaying me for something I have done? If you are paying me back, I will swiftly and speedily return on your own heads what you have done.^k For you took my silver and my gold and carried off my finest treasures to your temples.^l You sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks,^m that you might send them far from their homeland.

“See, I am going to rouse them out of the places to which you sold them,ⁿ and I will return^o on your own heads what you have done. I will sell your sons^p and daughters to the people of Judah,^q and they will sell them to the Sabeans,^r a nation far away.” The Lord has spoken.^s

Proclaim this among the nations:

Prepare for war!^t

Rouse the warriors!^u

Let all the fighting men draw near and attack.

Beat your plowshares into swords

and your pruning hooks^v into spears.^w

Let the weakling^x say,

“I am strong!”^y

Come quickly, all you nations from every side,

and assemble^z there.

Bring down your warriors,^a Lord!

“Let the nations be roused;

let them advance into the Valley of Jehoshaphat,^b

for there I will sit

to judge^c all the nations on every side.

Swing the sickle,^d

for the harvest^e is ripe.

Come, trample the grapes,^f

for the winepress^g is full

and the vats overflow—

so great is their wickedness!”

Multitudes,^h multitudes

in the valleyⁱ of decision!

For the day of the Lord^j is near

in the valley of decision.^k

The sun and moon will be darkened,

and the stars no longer shine.^l

The Lord will roar^m from Zion

and thunder from Jerusalem;ⁿ

the earth and the heavens will tremble.^o

But the Lord will be a refuge^p for his people,

a stronghold^q for the people of Israel.

Blessings for God’s People

“Then you will know^a that I, the Lord your God,^b

dwell in Zion,^c my holy hill.^d

Jerusalem will be holy;^e

never again will foreigners invade her.^f

“In that day the mountains will drip new wine,^g

and the hills will flow with milk;^h

all the ravines of Judah will run with water.ⁱ

A fountain will flow out of the Lord’s house^j

and will water the valley of acacias.^k

But Egypt^l will be desolate,

Edom^m a desert waste,

because of violenceⁿ done to the people of Judah,

in whose land they shed innocent blood.

Judah will be inhabited forever^o

and Jerusalem through all generations.

Shall I leave their innocent blood unpunished?^p

No, I will not.^q”

The Lord dwells in Zion!^r