Joel 3- 1
- `In those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem,
- 2
- I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. [1] There I will enter into judgment against them concerning my inheritance, my people Israel, for they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land.
- 3
- They cast lots for my people and traded boys for prostitutes; they sold girls for wine that they might drink.
- 4
- `Now what have you against me, O Tyre and Sidon and all you regions of Philistia? 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.
- 5
- For you took my silver and my gold and carried off my finest treasures to your temples.
- 6
- You sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks, that you might send them far from their homeland.
- 7
- `See, I am going to rouse them out of the places to which you sold them, and I will return on your own heads what you have done.
- 8
- I will sell your sons and daughters to the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans, a nation far away.` The LORD has spoken.
- 9
- Proclaim this among the nations: Prepare for war! Rouse the warriors! Let all the fighting men draw near and attack.
- 10
- Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weakling say, `I am strong!`
- 11
- Come quickly, all you nations from every side, and assemble there. Bring down your warriors, O LORD!
- 12
- `Let the nations be roused; let them advance into the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit to judge all the nations on every side.
- 13
- Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, trample the grapes, for the winepress is full and the vats overflow-- so great is their wickedness!`
- 14
- Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.
- 15
- The sun and moon will be darkened, and the stars no longer shine.
- 16
- The LORD will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem; the earth and the sky will tremble. But the LORD will be a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the people of Israel.
- 17
- `Then you will know that I, the LORD your God, dwell in Zion, my holy hill. Jerusalem will be holy; never again will foreigners invade her.
- 18
- `In that day the mountains will drip new wine, and the hills will flow with milk; all the ravines of Judah will run with water. A fountain will flow out of the LORD's house and will water the valley of acacias. [2]
- 19
- But Egypt will be desolate, Edom a desert waste, because of violence done to the people of Judah, in whose land they shed innocent blood.
- 20
- Judah will be inhabited forever and Jerusalem through all generations.
- 21
- Their bloodguilt, which I have not pardoned, I will pardon.` The LORD dwells in Zion!
- 2 Jehoshaphat means the LORD judges; also in verse 12.
- 18 Or Valley of Shittim