Joel 3 - New International Version (NIV)

The Nations Judged

3 [a]“In those days and at that time,
when I restore the fortunes(A) of Judah(B) and Jerusalem,
2 I will gather(C) all nations
and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat.[b](D)
There I will put them on trial(E)
for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel,
because they scattered(F) my people among the nations
and divided up my land.
3 They cast lots(G) for my people
and traded boys for prostitutes;
they sold girls for wine(H) to drink.

4 “Now what have you against me, Tyre and Sidon(I) 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) 5 For you took my silver and my gold and carried off my finest treasures to your temples.[c](L) 6 You sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks,(M) 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,(N) and I will return(O) on your own heads what you have done. 8 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)

9 Proclaim this among the nations:
Prepare for war!(T)
Rouse the warriors!(U)
Let all the fighting men draw near and attack.
10 Beat your plowshares into swords
and your pruning hooks(V) into spears.(W)
Let the weakling(X) say,
“I am strong!”(Y)
11 Come quickly, all you nations from every side,
and assemble(Z) there.

Bring down your warriors,(AA) Lord!

12 “Let the nations be roused;
let them advance into the Valley of Jehoshaphat,(AB)
for there I will sit
to judge(AC) all the nations on every side.
13 Swing the sickle,(AD)
for the harvest(AE) is ripe.
Come, trample the grapes,(AF)
for the winepress(AG) is full
and the vats overflow—
so great is their wickedness!”

14 Multitudes,(AH) multitudes
in the valley(AI) of decision!
For the day of the Lord(AJ) is near
in the valley of decision.(AK)
15 The sun and moon will be darkened,
and the stars no longer shine.(AL)
16 The Lord will roar(AM) from Zion
and thunder from Jerusalem;(AN)
the earth and the heavens will tremble.(AO)
But the Lord will be a refuge(AP) for his people,
a stronghold(AQ) for the people of Israel.

Blessings for God’s People

17 “Then you will know(AR) that I, the Lord your God,(AS)
dwell in Zion,(AT) my holy hill.(AU)
Jerusalem will be holy;(AV)
never again will foreigners invade her.(AW)

18 “In that day the mountains will drip new wine,(AX)
and the hills will flow with milk;(AY)
all the ravines of Judah will run with water.(AZ)
A fountain will flow out of the Lord’s house(BA)
and will water the valley of acacias.[d](BB)
19 But Egypt(BC) will be desolate,
Edom(BD) a desert waste,
because of violence(BE) done to the people of Judah,
in whose land they shed innocent blood.
20 Judah will be inhabited forever(BF)
and Jerusalem through all generations.
21 Shall I leave their innocent blood unavenged?(BG)
No, I will not.(BH)”

The Lord dwells in Zion!(BI)

Footnotes

  1. Joel 3:1 In Hebrew texts 3:1-21 is numbered 4:1-21.
  2. Joel 3:2 Jehoshaphat means the Lord judges; also in verse 12.
  3. Joel 3:5 Or palaces
  4. Joel 3:18 Or Valley of Shittim

Cross references

  1. Joel 3:1 : S Dt 30:3; S Jer 16:15; S Eze 38:8; Zep 3:20
  2. Joel 3:1 : Jer 40:5
  3. Joel 3:2 : Zep 3:8
  4. Joel 3:2 : ver 12; S Isa 22:1
  5. Joel 3:2 : S Isa 13:9; S Jer 2:35; S Eze 36:5
  6. Joel 3:2 : S Ge 11:4; S Lev 26:33
  7. Joel 3:3 : S Job 6:27; S Eze 24:6
  8. Joel 3:3 : Joel 1:5; Am 2:6
  9. Joel 3:4 : S Ge 10:15; S Mt 11:21
  10. Joel 3:4 : S Ps 87:4; Isa 14:29-31; Jer 47:1-7
  11. Joel 3:4 : S Lev 26:28; S Isa 34:8; S Eze 25:15-17; Zec 9:5-7
  12. Joel 3:5 : S 1Ki 15:18; S 2Ch 21:16-17
  13. Joel 3:6 : Eze 27:13; Zec 9:13
  14. Joel 3:7 : S Isa 43:5-6; Jer 23:8
  15. Joel 3:7 : S Isa 66:6
  16. Joel 3:8 : Isa 60:14
  17. Joel 3:8 : Isa 14:2
  18. Joel 3:8 : S Ge 10:7; S 2Ch 9:1
  19. Joel 3:8 : S Isa 23:1; S Jer 30:16
  20. Joel 3:9 : S Isa 8:9
  21. Joel 3:9 : Jer 46:4
  22. Joel 3:10 : Isa 2:4
  23. Joel 3:10 : S Nu 25:7
  24. Joel 3:10 : Zec 12:8
  25. Joel 3:10 : S Jos 1:6
  26. Joel 3:11 : Eze 38:15-16; Zep 3:8
  27. Joel 3:11 : S Isa 13:3
  28. Joel 3:12 : S ver 2
  29. Joel 3:12 : S Ps 82:1; S Isa 2:4
  30. Joel 3:13 : Mk 4:29
  31. Joel 3:13 : S Isa 17:5; S Hos 6:11; Mt 13:39; Rev 14:15-19
  32. Joel 3:13 : S Jer 25:30
  33. Joel 3:13 : S Jdg 6:11; S Rev 14:20
  34. Joel 3:14 : Isa 13:4
  35. Joel 3:14 : S Isa 22:1
  36. Joel 3:14 : Isa 34:2-8; S Joel 1:15; S Zep 1:7
  37. Joel 3:14 : S Isa 2:4; S Eze 36:5
  38. Joel 3:15 : S Job 9:7; S Eze 32:7
  39. Joel 3:16 : S Isa 42:13
  40. Joel 3:16 : Am 1:2
  41. Joel 3:16 : S Jdg 5:4; S Isa 14:16; S Eze 38:19
  42. Joel 3:16 : S Ps 46:1; S Isa 25:4; Zec 12:8
  43. Joel 3:16 : S 2Sa 22:3; Jer 16:19; Zec 9:12
  44. Joel 3:17 : S Ex 6:7
  45. Joel 3:17 : S Joel 2:27
  46. Joel 3:17 : S Ps 74:2; S Isa 4:3
  47. Joel 3:17 : Ps 2:6; S Isa 2:2; S Eze 17:22
  48. Joel 3:17 : S Jer 31:40
  49. Joel 3:17 : S Isa 52:1; S Eze 44:9; Zec 9:8
  50. Joel 3:18 : S Joel 2:24
  51. Joel 3:18 : Ex 3:8; S SS 5:1
  52. Joel 3:18 : S Isa 30:25; 35:6; S 44:3
  53. Joel 3:18 : Rev 22:1-2
  54. Joel 3:18 : S Nu 25:1; S Isa 25:6; S Jer 31:12; S Eze 47:1; Am 9:13
  55. Joel 3:19 : S Isa 19:1
  56. Joel 3:19 : S Isa 11:14; S 34:11
  57. Joel 3:19 : S Jer 51:35; Ob 1:10
  58. Joel 3:20 : S Ezr 9:12; Am 9:15
  59. Joel 3:21 : S Isa 1:15
  60. Joel 3:21 : S Eze 36:25
  61. Joel 3:21 : S Ps 74:2; Isa 59:20; S Eze 48:35; Zec 8:3

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