Judgment of the Nations

[a]Yes, in those days and at that time,
when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem,(A)
I will gather all the nations(B)
and take them to the Valley of Jehoshaphat.[b](C)
I will enter into judgment with them there(D)
because of My people, My inheritance Israel.
The nations have scattered the Israelites
in foreign countries(E)
and divided up My land.(F)
They cast lots for My people;(G)
they bartered a boy for a prostitute
and sold a girl for wine to drink.(H)

And also: Tyre,(I) Sidon, and all the territories of Philistia(J)—what are you to Me? Are you paying Me back or trying to get even with Me? I will quickly bring retribution on your heads.(K) For you took My silver and gold and carried My finest treasures(L) to your temples. You sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks(M) to remove them far from their own territory. Look, I am about to rouse them up from the place where you sold them;(N) I will bring retribution on your heads. I will sell your sons and daughters into the hands of the people of Judah,(O) and they will sell them to the Sabeans,[c](P) to a distant nation, for the Lord has spoken.

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Footnotes

  1. Joel 3:1 Jl 4:1 in Hb
  2. Joel 3:2 = The Lord Will Judge
  3. Joel 3:8 Probably the south Arabian kingdom of Sheba (modern Yemen)

The Coming Judgment of Nations

[a]“Look, now! In those very days and at that time,
when I restore prosperity to[b] Judah and Jerusalem,
I will gather all nations,
    bringing them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat.
I will set out my case against[c] them there,
    on behalf of my people, my heritage Israel,
whom they scattered among the nations,
    apportioning my land among themselves.[d]
They cast lots for my people—
    they sold a young boy in exchange for a prostitute,
and a girl for wine,
    so they could drink.”

The Lord’s Judgment upon Philistia

“Furthermore, what have you to do with me,
    Tyre, Sidon, and all the sea coasts of Philistia?
        Are you taking revenge on me?
If you are taking revenge on me,
    I’ll send it back on you[e] swiftly and promptly,
since you took my silver and gold,
    carried my precious treasures into your temples,
and sold Judah’s and Jerusalem’s descendants to the Greeks,[f]
    so you can remove them far from their homeland!

“Look, I will bring them up from where you sold them,
    I will turn your revenge back upon you,[g]
and I will sell your sons and daughters into the control of the people of Judah.
    And they will sell them to the people of Sheba, a country far away.”
        Indeed, the Lord has spoken.”

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Footnotes

  1. Joel 3:1 This verse is 4:1 in MT, and so through the end of the chapter.
  2. Joel 3:1 Or bring back the captivity of
  3. Joel 3:2 Or will judge
  4. Joel 3:2 The Heb. lacks among themselves
  5. Joel 3:4 Lit. your head
  6. Joel 3:6 Lit. Jevanites; i.e. descendants of Javan
  7. Joel 3:7 Lit. turn back your reward