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

14 Multitudes,(G) multitudes
    in the valley(H) of decision!
For the day of the Lord(I) is near
    in the valley of decision.(J)
15 The sun and moon will be darkened,
    and the stars no longer shine.(K)
16 The Lord will roar(L) from Zion
    and thunder from Jerusalem;(M)
    the earth and the heavens will tremble.(N)
But the Lord will be a refuge(O) for his people,
    a stronghold(P) for the people of Israel.

Blessings for God’s People

17 “Then you will know(Q) that I, the Lord your God,(R)
    dwell in Zion,(S) my holy hill.(T)
Jerusalem will be holy;(U)
    never again will foreigners invade her.(V)

18 “In that day the mountains will drip new wine,(W)
    and the hills will flow with milk;(X)
    all the ravines of Judah will run with water.(Y)
A fountain will flow out of the Lord’s house(Z)
    and will water the valley of acacias.[a](AA)
19 But Egypt(AB) will be desolate,
    Edom(AC) a desert waste,
because of violence(AD) done to the people of Judah,
    in whose land they shed innocent blood.
20 Judah will be inhabited forever(AE)
    and Jerusalem through all generations.
21 Shall I leave their innocent blood unavenged?(AF)
    No, I will not.(AG)

The Lord dwells in Zion!(AH)

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Footnotes

  1. Joel 3:18 Or Valley of Shittim

12 Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.

13 Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for 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 the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.

16 The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.

17 So shall ye know that I am the Lord your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.

18 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth out of the house of the Lord, and shall water the valley of Shittim.

19 Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land.

20 But Judah shall dwell for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation.

21 For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the Lord dwelleth in Zion.

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