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Joel 3:1-3
The Message
Joel 3:1-3
The Message
God Is a Safe Hiding Place
3 1-3 “In those days, yes, at that very time
when I put life back together again for Judah and Jerusalem,
I’ll assemble all the godless nations.
I’ll lead them down into Judgment Valley
And put them all on trial, and judge them one and all
because of their treatment of my own people Israel.
They scattered my people all over the pagan world
and grabbed my land for themselves.
They threw dice for my people
and used them for barter.
They would trade a boy for a whore,
sell a girl for a bottle of wine when they wanted a drink.
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Joel 3:1-2
New International Version
Joel 3:1-2
New International Version
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.
Joel 3:9-17
The Message
Joel 3:9-17
The Message
9-11 Announce this to the godless nations:
Prepare for battle!
Soldiers at attention!
Present arms! Advance!
Turn your shovels into swords,
turn your hoes into spears.
Let the weak one throw out his chest
and say, “I’m tough, I’m a fighter.”
Hurry up, pagans! Wherever you are, get a move on!
Get your act together.
Prepare to be
shattered by God!
12 Let the pagan nations set out
for Judgment Valley.
There I’ll take my place at the bench
and judge all the surrounding nations.
13 “Swing the sickle—
the harvest is ready.
Stomp on the grapes—
the winepress is full.
The wine vats are full,
overflowing with vintage evil.
14 “Mass confusion, mob uproar—
in Decision Valley!
God’s Judgment Day has arrived
in Decision Valley.
15-17 “The sky turns black,
sun and moon go dark, stars burn out.
God roars from Zion, shouts from Jerusalem.
Earth and sky quake in terror.
But God is a safe hiding place,
a granite safe house for the children of Israel.
Then you’ll know for sure
that I’m your God,
Living in Zion,
my sacred mountain.
Jerusalem will be a sacred city,
posted: ‘no trespassing.’
Joel 3:9-17
New International Version
Joel 3:9-17
New International Version
9 Proclaim this among the nations:
Prepare for war!(A)
Rouse the warriors!(B)
Let all the fighting men draw near and attack.
10 Beat your plowshares into swords
and your pruning hooks(C) into spears.(D)
Let the weakling(E) say,
“I am strong!”(F)
11 Come quickly, all you nations from every side,
and assemble(G) there.
Bring down your warriors,(H) Lord!
12 “Let the nations be roused;
let them advance into the Valley of Jehoshaphat,(I)
for there I will sit
to judge(J) all the nations on every side.
13 Swing the sickle,(K)
for the harvest(L) is ripe.
Come, trample the grapes,(M)
for the winepress(N) is full
and the vats overflow—
so great is their wickedness!”
14 Multitudes,(O) multitudes
in the valley(P) of decision!
For the day of the Lord(Q) is near
in the valley of decision.(R)
15 The sun and moon will be darkened,
and the stars no longer shine.(S)
16 The Lord will roar(T) from Zion
and thunder from Jerusalem;(U)
the earth and the heavens will tremble.(V)
But the Lord will be a refuge(W) for his people,
a stronghold(X) for the people of Israel.
Blessings for God’s People
The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson
New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.