NIV
Joel 3
- 1<pb/><t><f>[8]</f>“In those days and at that time,</t> <t>when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem,</t>
- 2<t>I will gather all nations</t> <t>and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat.<f>[9]</f></t> <t>There I will put them on trial</t> <t>for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel,</t> <t>because they scattered my people among the nations</t> <t>and divided up my land.</t>
- 3<t>They cast lots for my people</t> <t>and traded boys for prostitutes;</t> <t>they sold girls for wine to drink.</t>
- 4<pb/>“Now what have you against me, 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.
- 5For you took my silver and my gold and carried off my finest treasures to your temples.<f>[10]</f>
- 6You sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks, that you might send them far from their homeland.
- 7<pb/>“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.
- 8I 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<pb/><t>Proclaim this among the nations:</t> <t>Prepare for war!</t> <t>Rouse the warriors!</t> <t>Let all the fighting men draw near and attack.</t>
- 10<t>Beat your plowshares into swords</t> <t>and your pruning hooks into spears.</t> <t>Let the weakling say,</t> <t>“I am strong!”</t>
- 11<t>Come quickly, all you nations from every side,</t> <t>and assemble there. <pb/>Bring down your warriors, LORD! <pb/></t>
- 12<t>“Let the nations be roused;</t> <t>let them advance into the Valley of Jehoshaphat,</t> <t>for there I will sit</t> <t>to judge all the nations on every side.</t>
- 13<t>Swing the sickle,</t> <t>for the harvest is ripe.</t> <t>Come, trample the grapes,</t> <t>for the winepress is full</t> <t>and the vats overflow—</t> <t>so great is their wickedness!” <pb/></t>
- 14<t>Multitudes, multitudes</t> <t>in the valley of decision!</t> <t>For the day of the LORD is near</t> <t>in the valley of decision.</t>
- 15<t>The sun and moon will be darkened,</t> <t>and the stars no longer shine.</t>
- 16<t>The LORD will roar from Zion</t> <t>and thunder from Jerusalem;</t> <t>the earth and the heavens will tremble.</t> <t>But the LORD will be a refuge for his people,</t> <t>a stronghold for the people of Israel.</t>
- 17<t>“Then you will know that I, the LORD your God,</t> <t>dwell in Zion, my holy hill.</t> <t>Jerusalem will be holy;</t> <t>never again will foreigners invade her. <pb/></t>
- 18<t>“In that day the mountains will drip new wine,</t> <t>and the hills will flow with milk;</t> <t>all the ravines of Judah will run with water.</t> <t>A fountain will flow out of the LORD’s house</t> <t>and will water the valley of acacias.<f>[11]</f></t>
- 19<t>But Egypt will be desolate,</t> <t>Edom a desert waste,</t> <t>because of violence done to the people of Judah,</t> <t>in whose land they shed innocent blood.</t>
- 20<t>Judah will be inhabited forever</t> <t>and Jerusalem through all generations.</t>
- 21<t>Shall I leave their innocent blood unavenged?</t> <t>No, I will not.” <pb/>The LORD dwells in Zion!</t>