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The Lord Restores the Land

18 Then the Lord became ·concerned about [jealous/zealous for] his land
    and ·felt sorry [had compassion] for his people.
19 He ·said to [answered] them:
    [L Look; T Behold] I will send you grain, new wine, and olive oil,
    so that you will ·have plenty [be satisfied].
No more will I ·shame you [make you a reproach/object of scorn]
    among the nations.
20 I will ·force the army from the north to leave your land [L drive the northern one far from you]
    and go into a dry, ·empty [desolate] land.
·Their soldiers [L Those] in front will be forced into the ·Dead [L Eastern] Sea,
    and those in the rear into the ·Mediterranean [L Western] Sea.
·Their bodies will rot and stink [His stench and foul smell will rise].
    The Lord has surely done ·a wonderful thing [great things]!”

21 Land, don’t be afraid;
    be ·happy [glad] and ·full of joy [rejoice],
    because the Lord has done ·a wonderful thing [great things].
22 ·Wild animals [L Beasts of the field], don’t be afraid,
    because the ·open [wilderness] pastures ·have grown grass [L are sprouting green].
The trees ·have given [bear] fruit;
    the fig trees and the grapevines ·have grown much fruit [provide riches].
23 So be happy, ·people of Jerusalem [L sons/children of Zion; 2:1];
    ·be joyful [rejoice] in the Lord your God.
Because he ·does what is right,
    he has brought you rain [or has vindicated you by giving you rain];
he has sent the ·fall [L early] rain
    and the ·spring [L late] rain for you, as before.
24 And the threshing floors will be full of grain;
    the ·barrels [vats] will overflow with new wine and olive oil.

The Lord Speaks

25 “Though I sent my great army against you—
    those ·swarming [or great] locusts and ·hopping [or crawling; or young] locusts,
    the ·destroying [consuming] locusts and the ·cutting [chewing; or swarming] locusts that ate your crops [see 1:4]
I will ·pay you back
    for [or restore to you] those ·years of trouble [L years].
26 Then you will have plenty to eat
    and be ·full [satisfied].
You will praise the name of the Lord your God,
    who has ·done miracles [or acted wondrously/marvelously] for you.
My people will never again be shamed.
27 Then you will know that I am ·among [in the midst of] the people of Israel,
    that I am the Lord your God,
    and there is no ·other God [L other].
My people will never be shamed again.

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The Lord’s Answer

18 Then the Lord was jealous(A) for his land
    and took pity(B) on his people.

19 The Lord replied[a] to them:

“I am sending you grain, new wine(C) and olive oil,(D)
    enough to satisfy you fully;(E)
never again will I make you
    an object of scorn(F) to the nations.

20 “I will drive the northern horde(G) far from you,
    pushing it into a parched and barren land;
its eastern ranks will drown in the Dead Sea
    and its western ranks in the Mediterranean Sea.
And its stench(H) will go up;
    its smell will rise.”

Surely he has done great things!
21     Do not be afraid,(I) land of Judah;
    be glad and rejoice.(J)
Surely the Lord has done great things!(K)
22     Do not be afraid, you wild animals,
    for the pastures in the wilderness are becoming green.(L)
The trees are bearing their fruit;
    the fig tree(M) and the vine(N) yield their riches.(O)
23 Be glad, people of Zion,
    rejoice(P) in the Lord your God,
for he has given you the autumn rains
    because he is faithful.(Q)
He sends you abundant showers,(R)
    both autumn(S) and spring rains,(T) as before.
24 The threshing floors will be filled with grain;
    the vats will overflow(U) with new wine(V) and oil.

25 “I will repay you for the years the locusts(W) have eaten(X)
    the great locust and the young locust,
    the other locusts and the locust swarm[b]
my great army(Y) that I sent among you.
26 You will have plenty to eat, until you are full,(Z)
    and you will praise(AA) the name of the Lord your God,
    who has worked wonders(AB) for you;
never again will my people be shamed.(AC)
27 Then you will know(AD) that I am in Israel,
    that I am the Lord(AE) your God,
    and that there is no other;
never again will my people be shamed.(AF)

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Footnotes

  1. Joel 2:19 Or Lord will be jealous … / and take pity … / 19 The Lord will reply
  2. Joel 2:25 The precise meaning of the four Hebrew words used here for locusts is uncertain.