Joe 3 | BSB | STEP | Yes, in those days and at that time, when I restore from captivity Judah and Jerusalem,

Joel 3

The LORD Judges the Nations

1 Yes, in those days and at that time, when I restore from captivity ^{▼▼Or restore the fortunes of} Judah and Jerusalem, 2 I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. ^{▼▼Jehoshaphat means the LORD judges; also in verse 12} There I will enter into judgment against them concerning My people, My inheritance, Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations as they divided up My land. 3 They cast lots for My people; they bartered a boy for a prostitute and sold a girl for wine to drink. 4 Now what have you against Me, O Tyre, Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia— are you rendering Me a recompense? But if you retaliate against Me, I will swiftly and speedily return retribution on your heads. 5 For you took My silver and gold and carried off My finest treasures to your temples. ^{▼▼Or palaces} 6 You sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks, to send them far from their homeland. 7 Behold, I will rouse them from the places to which you sold them; I will return retribution on your heads. 8 I will sell your sons and daughters into the hands of the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans, to a distant nation.” Indeed, the LORD has spoken. 9 Proclaim this among the nations: “Prepare for war; rouse the mighty men; let all the men of war advance and attack! 10 Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, ‘I [am] strong!’ 11 Come quickly, all you nations on every side and gather yourselves. Bring down Your mighty ones, O LORD. 12 Let the nations be roused and advance into the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit down 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; the wine vats overflow because their wickedness is great. 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 grow dark, and the stars no longer shine. 16 The LORD will roar from Zion and raise His voice from Jerusalem; heaven and earth will tremble. But the LORD will be a refuge for His people, a stronghold for the people of Israel.

Blessings for God's People

17 Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who dwells in Zion, My holy mountain. Jerusalem will be holy, never again to be overrun by foreigners . 18 And in that day the mountains will drip with sweet wine, and the hills will flow with milk. All the streams of Judah will run with water, and a spring will flow from the house of the LORD to water the Valley of Acacias. ^{▼▼Or Valley of Shittim} 19 Egypt will become desolate, and Edom a desert wasteland , because of the violence done to the people of Judah, in whose land they shed innocent blood. 20 But Judah will be inhabited forever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation. 21 For I will acquit their bloodguilt which I have not yet acquitted.” ^{▼▼Or I will avenge their bloodshed which I have not yet avenged} For the LORD dwells in Zion.