New International Version

New Living Translation

The Nations Judged

“In those days and at that time,
when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem,

Judgment against Enemy Nations

a“At the time of those events,” says the LORD,
“when I restore the prosperity of Judah and Jerusalem,

2

I will gather all nations
and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat.a
There I will put them on trial
for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel,
because they scattered my people among the nations
and divided up my land.

2

I will gather the armies of the world
into the valley of Jehoshaphat.b
There I will judge them
for harming my people, my special possession,
for scattering my people among the nations,
and for dividing up my land.

3

They cast lots for my people
and traded boys for prostitutes;
they sold girls for wine to drink.

3

They threw dicec to decide which of my people
would be their slaves.
They traded boys to obtain prostitutes
and sold girls for enough wine to get drunk.

4

“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.

4

“What do you have against me, Tyre and Sidon and you cities of Philistia? Are you trying to take revenge on me? If you are, then watch out! I will strike swiftly and pay you back for everything you have done.

5

For you took my silver and my gold and carried off my finest treasures to your temples.b

5

You have taken my silver and gold and all my precious treasures, and have carried them off to your pagan temples.

6

You sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks, that you might send them far from their homeland.

6

You have sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks,d so they could take 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.

7

“But I will bring them back from all the places to which you sold them, and I will pay you back for everything 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.

8

I will sell your sons and daughters to the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the people of Arabia,e a nation far away. I, the LORD, have spoken!”

9

Proclaim this among the nations:
Prepare for war!
Rouse the warriors!
Let all the fighting men draw near and attack.

9

Say to the nations far and wide:
“Get ready for war!
Call out your best warriors.
Let all your fighting men advance for the attack.

10

Beat your plowshares into swords
and your pruning hooks into spears.
Let the weakling say,
“I am strong!”

10

Hammer your plowshares into swords
and your pruning hooks into spears.
Train even your weaklings to be warriors.

11

Come quickly, all you nations from every side,
and assemble there.
Bring down your warriors, Lord!

11

Come quickly, all you nations everywhere.
Gather together in the valley.”
And now, O LORD, call out your warriors!

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.

12

“Let the nations be called to arms.
Let them march to the valley of Jehoshaphat.
There I, the LORD, will sit
to pronounce judgment on them all.

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!”

13

Swing the sickle,
for the harvest is ripe.f
Come, tread the grapes,
for the winepress is full.
The storage vats are overflowing
with the wickedness of these people.”

14

Multitudes, multitudes
in the valley of decision!
For the day of the Lord is near
in the valley of decision.

14

Thousands upon thousands are waiting in the valley of decision.
There the day of the LORD will soon arrive.

15

The sun and moon will be darkened,
and the stars no longer shine.

15

The sun and moon will grow dark,
and the stars will no longer shine.

16

The Lord will roar from Zion
and thunder from Jerusalem;
the earth and the heavens will tremble.
But the Lord will be a refuge for his people,
a stronghold for the people of Israel.

16

The LORD’s voice will roar from Zion
and thunder from Jerusalem,
and the heavens and the earth will shake.
But the LORD will be a refuge for his people,
a strong fortress for the people of Israel.
Blessings for God’s People

17

Blessings for God’s People

“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.

17

“Then you will know that I, the LORD your God,
live in Zion, my holy mountain.
Jerusalem will be holy forever,
and foreign armies will never conquer her again.

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.c

18

In that day the mountains will drip with sweet wine,
and the hills will flow with milk.
Water will fill the streambeds of Judah,
and a fountain will burst forth from the LORD’s Temple,
watering the arid valley of acacias.g

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.

19

But Egypt will become a wasteland
and Edom will become a wilderness,
because they attacked the people of Judah
and killed innocent people in their land.

20

Judah will be inhabited forever
and Jerusalem through all generations.

20

“But Judah will be filled with people forever,
and Jerusalem will endure through all generations.

21

Shall I leave their innocent blood unavenged?
No, I will not.”
The Lord dwells in Zion!

21

I will pardon my people’s crimes,
which I have not yet pardoned;
and I, the LORD, will make my home
in Jerusalemh with my people.”

Parallel

New International Version

New Living Translation

Joel 3

Joel 3