The Reign of the Lords Anointed.

Why are (A)the [a]nations restless
And the peoples (B)plotting in vain?
The (C)kings of the earth take their stand
And the rulers conspire together
(D)Against the Lord and against His [b](E)Anointed, saying,
“Let’s (F)tear their shackles apart
And throw their ropes away from us!”

He who [c]sits in the heavens (G)laughs,
The Lord (H)scoffs at them.
Then He will speak to them in His (I)anger
And (J)terrify them in His fury, saying,
“But as for Me, I have installed (K)My King
Upon Zion, (L)My holy mountain.”

“I will announce the [d]decree of the Lord:
He said to Me, ‘You are (M)My Son,
Today I have fathered You.
Ask it of Me, and (N)I will certainly give (O)the [e]nations as Your inheritance,
And the (P)ends of the earth as Your possession.
You shall [f](Q)break them with a [g]rod of iron,
You shall (R)shatter them like [h]earthenware.’”

10 Now then, you kings, (S)use insight;
Let yourselves be instructed, you [i]judges of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with [j](T)reverence
And rejoice with (U)trembling.
12 [k]Kiss (V)the Son, that He not be angry and you perish on the way,
For (W)His wrath may be kindled quickly.
How blessed are all who (X)take refuge in Him!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 2:1 Or Gentiles
  2. Psalm 2:2 Or Messiah
  3. Psalm 2:4 Or is enthroned
  4. Psalm 2:7 Or decree: The Lord said to Me
  5. Psalm 2:8 Or Gentiles
  6. Psalm 2:9 Another reading is rule
  7. Psalm 2:9 Or scepter; or staff
  8. Psalm 2:9 Lit potter’s ware
  9. Psalm 2:10 Or leaders
  10. Psalm 2:11 Or fear
  11. Psalm 2:12 I.e., probably kiss the feet of the Son

Psalm 2

Why do the nations conspire[a]
    and the peoples plot(A) in vain?
The kings(B) of the earth rise up
    and the rulers band together
    against the Lord and against his anointed,(C) saying,
“Let us break their chains(D)
    and throw off their shackles.”(E)

The One enthroned(F) in heaven laughs;(G)
    the Lord scoffs at them.
He rebukes them in his anger(H)
    and terrifies them in his wrath,(I) saying,
“I have installed my king(J)
    on Zion,(K) my holy mountain.(L)

I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:

He said to me, “You are my son;(M)
    today I have become your father.(N)
Ask me,
    and I will make the nations(O) your inheritance,(P)
    the ends of the earth(Q) your possession.
You will break them with a rod of iron[b];(R)
    you will dash them to pieces(S) like pottery.(T)

10 Therefore, you kings, be wise;(U)
    be warned, you rulers(V) of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear(W)
    and celebrate his rule(X) with trembling.(Y)
12 Kiss his son,(Z) or he will be angry
    and your way will lead to your destruction,
for his wrath(AA) can flare up in a moment.
    Blessed(AB) are all who take refuge(AC) in him.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 2:1 Hebrew; Septuagint rage
  2. Psalm 2:9 Or will rule them with an iron scepter (see Septuagint and Syriac)

God’s Wrath against Nations

34 Come near, (A)you nations, to hear; and listen, you peoples!
(B)Let the earth and [a]all it contains hear, and the world and all that springs from it.
For the Lords (C)anger is against all the nations,
And His wrath against all their armies.
He has [b](D)utterly destroyed them,
He has turned them over to (E)slaughter.
So their slain will be (F)thrown out,
And their corpses [c]will give off their (G)stench,
And the mountains will [d]be drenched with their (H)blood.
And (I)all the heavenly [e]lights will [f]wear away,
And the (J)sky will be rolled up like a scroll;
All its [g]lights will also wither away
As a leaf withers from the vine,
Or as one withers from the fig tree.
For (K)My sword has drunk its fill in heaven;
Behold it shall descend for judgment upon (L)Edom,
And upon the people whom I have (M)designated for destruction.
The sword of the Lord is filled with blood,
It drips with fat, with the blood of lambs and goats,
With the fat of the kidneys of rams.
For the Lord has a sacrifice in (N)Bozrah,
And a great slaughter in the land of (O)Edom.
(P)Wild oxen will also [h]fall with them
And (Q)young bulls with strong ones;
So their land will be (R)soaked with blood,
And their dust [i]become greasy with fat.
For the Lord has a day of (S)vengeance,
A year of retribution for the [j]cause of Zion.
[k]Its streams will be turned into pitch,
And its loose earth into (T)brimstone,
And its land will become burning pitch.
10 It will (U)not be extinguished night or day;
Its (V)smoke will go up forever.
From (W)generation to generation it will be desolate;
(X)None will pass through it forever and ever.
11 But [l](Y)pelican and hedgehog will possess it,
And [m]owl and raven will dwell in it;
And He will stretch over it the (Z)line of [n]desolation
And the [o]plumb line of emptiness.
12 Its nobles—there is (AA)no one there
Whom they may proclaim king—
And all its officials will be (AB)nothing.
13 Thorns will come up in its (AC)fortified towers,
Weeds and thistles in its fortified cities;
It will also be a haunt of (AD)jackals
And a habitat of ostriches.
14 The desert (AE)creatures will meet with the [p]wolves,
The [q](AF)goat also will cry to its kind.
Yes, the [r]night-bird will settle there
And will find herself a resting place.
15 The tree snake will make its nest and lay eggs there,
And it will hatch and gather them under its [s]protection.
Yes, (AG)the [t]hawks will be gathered there,
Every one with its kind.

16 Seek from the (AH)book of the Lord, and read:

Not one of these will be missing;
None will lack its mate.
For [u](AI)His mouth has commanded,
And His Spirit has gathered them.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 34:1 Lit its fullness
  2. Isaiah 34:2 Lit put under the ban
  3. Isaiah 34:3 Lit their stench will go up
  4. Isaiah 34:3 Lit dissolve
  5. Isaiah 34:4 Lit host; i.e., sun, stars, etc.
  6. Isaiah 34:4 Lit rot
  7. Isaiah 34:4 Lit host; i.e., sun, stars, etc.
  8. Isaiah 34:7 Lit go down
  9. Isaiah 34:7 Lit made fat
  10. Isaiah 34:8 Or controversy
  11. Isaiah 34:9 I.e., Edom’s
  12. Isaiah 34:11 Or owl; or jackdaw
  13. Isaiah 34:11 Or great horned owl
  14. Isaiah 34:11 Or formlessness
  15. Isaiah 34:11 Lit stones of void
  16. Isaiah 34:14 Or howling creatures
  17. Isaiah 34:14 Or goat demon
  18. Isaiah 34:14 Or a demon; Heb Lilith
  19. Isaiah 34:15 Lit shade
  20. Isaiah 34:15 Or kites
  21. Isaiah 34:16 As in DSS; MT My

Judgment Against the Nations

34 Come near, you nations, and listen;(A)
    pay attention, you peoples!(B)
Let the earth(C) hear, and all that is in it,
    the world, and all that comes out of it!(D)
The Lord is angry with all nations;
    his wrath(E) is on all their armies.
He will totally destroy[a](F) them,
    he will give them over to slaughter.(G)
Their slain(H) will be thrown out,
    their dead bodies(I) will stink;(J)
    the mountains will be soaked with their blood.(K)
All the stars in the sky will be dissolved(L)
    and the heavens rolled up(M) like a scroll;
all the starry host will fall(N)
    like withered(O) leaves from the vine,
    like shriveled figs from the fig tree.

My sword(P) has drunk its fill in the heavens;
    see, it descends in judgment on Edom,(Q)
    the people I have totally destroyed.(R)
The sword(S) of the Lord is bathed in blood,
    it is covered with fat—
the blood of lambs and goats,
    fat from the kidneys of rams.
For the Lord has a sacrifice(T) in Bozrah(U)
    and a great slaughter(V) in the land of Edom.
And the wild oxen(W) will fall with them,
    the bull calves and the great bulls.(X)
Their land will be drenched with blood,(Y)
    and the dust will be soaked with fat.

For the Lord has a day(Z) of vengeance,(AA)
    a year of retribution,(AB) to uphold Zion’s cause.
Edom’s streams will be turned into pitch,
    her dust into burning sulfur;(AC)
    her land will become blazing pitch!
10 It will not be quenched(AD) night or day;
    its smoke will rise forever.(AE)
From generation to generation(AF) it will lie desolate;(AG)
    no one will ever pass through it again.
11 The desert owl[b](AH) and screech owl[c] will possess it;
    the great owl[d] and the raven(AI) will nest there.
God will stretch out over Edom(AJ)
    the measuring line of chaos(AK)
    and the plumb line(AL) of desolation.
12 Her nobles will have nothing there to be called a kingdom,
    all her princes(AM) will vanish(AN) away.
13 Thorns(AO) will overrun her citadels,
    nettles and brambles her strongholds.(AP)
She will become a haunt for jackals,(AQ)
    a home for owls.(AR)
14 Desert creatures(AS) will meet with hyenas,(AT)
    and wild goats will bleat to each other;
there the night creatures(AU) will also lie down
    and find for themselves places of rest.
15 The owl will nest there and lay eggs,
    she will hatch them, and care for her young
    under the shadow of her wings;(AV)
there also the falcons(AW) will gather,
    each with its mate.

16 Look in the scroll(AX) of the Lord and read:

None of these will be missing,(AY)
    not one will lack her mate.
For it is his mouth(AZ) that has given the order,(BA)
    and his Spirit will gather them together.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 34:2 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them; also in verse 5.
  2. Isaiah 34:11 The precise identification of these birds is uncertain.
  3. Isaiah 34:11 The precise identification of these birds is uncertain.
  4. Isaiah 34:11 The precise identification of these birds is uncertain.

God’s Vengeance on the Nations

63 Who is this who comes from (A)Edom,
With (B)garments of [a]glowing colors from (C)Bozrah,
This One who is majestic in His apparel,
[b]Marching in the greatness of His strength?
“It is I, the One who speaks in righteousness, (D)mighty to save.”
Why is Your apparel red,
And Your garments like one who (E)treads in the wine press?
(F)I have trodden the wine trough alone,
And from the peoples there was no one with Me.
I also (G)trod them in My anger
And (H)trampled them in My wrath;
And (I)their [c]lifeblood is sprinkled on My garments,
And I [d]stained all My clothes.
For the (J)day of vengeance was in My heart,
And My year of redemption has come.
I looked, but there was (K)no one to help,
And I was astonished and there was no one to uphold;
So My (L)own arm brought salvation to Me,
And My wrath upheld Me.
I (M)trampled down the peoples in My anger
And made them (N)drunk with My wrath,
And I [e]poured out their lifeblood on the earth.”

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 63:1 Or crimson
  2. Isaiah 63:1 Lit Inclining
  3. Isaiah 63:3 Lit juice
  4. Isaiah 63:3 Lit defiled
  5. Isaiah 63:6 Lit brought down their juice to the earth

God’s Day of Vengeance and Redemption

63 Who is this coming from Edom,(A)
    from Bozrah,(B) with his garments stained crimson?(C)
Who is this, robed in splendor,
    striding forward in the greatness of his strength?(D)

“It is I, proclaiming victory,
    mighty to save.”(E)

Why are your garments red,
    like those of one treading the winepress?(F)

“I have trodden the winepress(G) alone;
    from the nations no one was with me.
I trampled(H) them in my anger
    and trod them down in my wrath;(I)
their blood spattered my garments,(J)
    and I stained all my clothing.
It was for me the day of vengeance;(K)
    the year for me to redeem had come.
I looked, but there was no one(L) to help,
    I was appalled that no one gave support;
so my own arm(M) achieved salvation for me,
    and my own wrath sustained me.(N)
I trampled(O) the nations in my anger;
    in my wrath I made them drunk(P)
    and poured their blood(Q) on the ground.”

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The Nations Will Be Judged

[a]For behold, (A)in those days and at that time,
When I (B)restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem,
I will (C)gather all the nations
And bring them down to the (D)Valley of [b]Jehoshaphat.
Then I will (E)enter into judgment with them there
On behalf of My people and My inheritance, Israel,
Whom they have (F)scattered among the nations;
And they have (G)divided up My land.
They have also (H)cast lots for My people,
[c](I)Traded a boy for a prostitute,
And sold a girl for wine so that they may drink.

Moreover, what are you to Me, (J)Tyre, Sidon, and all the regions of (K)Philistia? Are you repaying Me with retribution? But if you are showing Me retribution, swiftly and speedily I will (L)return your retribution on your head! Since you have (M)taken My silver and My gold, brought My precious [d]treasures to your temples, and sold the (N)sons of Judah and Jerusalem to the [e]Greeks in order to remove them far from their territory, behold, I am going to (O)stir them up from the place where you have sold them, and return your retribution on your head. I will also (P)sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the sons of Judah, and they will sell them to the (Q)Sabeans, to a distant nation,” for the Lord has spoken.

(R)Proclaim this among the nations:
(S)Prepare for holy war; (T)stir up the warriors!
Have all the soldiers come forward, have them come up!
10 (U)Beat your plowshares into swords,
And your pruning hooks into spears;
(V)Let the weak man say, “I am a warrior.”
11 [f](W)Hurry and come, all you surrounding nations,
And gather yourselves there.
Bring down, Lord, Your (X)warriors.
12 Let the nations be awakened
And come up to the (Y)Valley of [g]Jehoshaphat,
For there I will sit to (Z)judge
All the surrounding nations.
13 (AA)Put in the sickle, for the (AB)harvest is ripe.
Come, (AC)tread the grapes, for the (AD)wine press is full;
The vats overflow, for their (AE)wickedness is great.
14 (AF)Multitudes, multitudes in the (AG)valley of [h]decision!
For the (AH)day of the Lord is near in the valley of [i]decision.
15 The (AI)sun and moon have become dark,
And the stars have lost their brightness.
16 The Lord (AJ)roars from Zion
And (AK)utters His voice from Jerusalem,
And the (AL)heavens and the earth quake.
But the Lord is a (AM)refuge for His people,
And a (AN)stronghold for the sons of Israel.
17 Then you will (AO)know that I am the Lord your God,
Dwelling on Zion, My (AP)holy mountain.
So Jerusalem will be (AQ)holy,
And (AR)strangers will no longer pass through it.

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Footnotes

  1. Joel 3:1 Ch 4:1 in Heb
  2. Joel 3:2 I.e., YHWH judges
  3. Joel 3:3 Lit Given
  4. Joel 3:5 Lit goodly things
  5. Joel 3:6 Lit sons of Javan
  6. Joel 3:11 Or Come help
  7. Joel 3:12 I.e., YHWH judges
  8. Joel 3:14 I.e., God’s verdict
  9. Joel 3:14 I.e., God’s verdict

The Nations Judged

[a]“In those days and at that time,
    when I restore the fortunes(A) of Judah(B) and Jerusalem,
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.
They cast lots(G) for my people
    and traded boys for prostitutes;
    they sold girls for wine(H) to drink.

“Now what have you against me, Tyre and Sidon(I) and all you regions of Philistia?(J) Are you repaying me for something I have done? If you are paying me back, I will swiftly and speedily return on your own heads what you have done.(K) For you took my silver and my gold and carried off my finest treasures to your temples.[c](L) You sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks,(M) that you might send them far from their homeland.

“See, I am going to rouse them out of the places to which you sold them,(N) and I will return(O) on your own heads what you have done. I will sell your sons(P) and daughters to the people of Judah,(Q) and they will sell them to the Sabeans,(R) a nation far away.” The Lord has spoken.(S)

Proclaim this among the nations:
    Prepare for war!(T)
Rouse the warriors!(U)
    Let all the fighting men draw near and attack.
10 Beat your plowshares into swords
    and your pruning hooks(V) into spears.(W)
Let the weakling(X) say,
    “I am strong!”(Y)
11 Come quickly, all you nations from every side,
    and assemble(Z) there.

Bring down your warriors,(AA) Lord!

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

14 Multitudes,(AH) multitudes
    in the valley(AI) of decision!
For the day of the Lord(AJ) is near
    in the valley of decision.(AK)
15 The sun and moon will be darkened,
    and the stars no longer shine.(AL)
16 The Lord will roar(AM) from Zion
    and thunder from Jerusalem;(AN)
    the earth and the heavens will tremble.(AO)
But the Lord will be a refuge(AP) for his people,
    a stronghold(AQ) for the people of Israel.

Blessings for God’s People

17 “Then you will know(AR) that I, the Lord your God,(AS)
    dwell in Zion,(AT) my holy hill.(AU)
Jerusalem will be holy;(AV)
    never again will foreigners invade her.(AW)

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Footnotes

  1. Joel 3:1 In Hebrew texts 3:1-21 is numbered 4:1-21.
  2. Joel 3:2 Jehoshaphat means the Lord judges; also in verse 12.
  3. Joel 3:5 Or palaces

Jerusalem to Be Attacked

12 The pronouncement of the word of the Lord concerning Israel:

The Lord who (A)stretches out the heavens, (B)lays the foundation of the earth, and (C)forms the spirit of a person within him, declares: “Behold, I am going to make Jerusalem a (D)cup [a]that causes staggering to all the peoples around; and when the siege is against Jerusalem, it will also be against (E)Judah. It will come about on that day that I will make Jerusalem a heavy (F)stone for all the peoples; all who lift it will (G)injure themselves severely. And all the (H)nations of the earth will be gathered against it. On that day,” declares the Lord, “I will strike every horse with confusion and its rider with insanity. But I will [b]watch over the house of Judah, while I strike every horse of the peoples with blindness. Then the [c]clans of Judah will say in their hearts, ‘The inhabitants of Jerusalem are a [d]strong support for us through the Lord of armies, their God.’

“On that day I will make the [e]clans of Judah like a (I)firepot among pieces of wood and a flaming torch among sheaves, so they will consume on the right and on the left all the surrounding peoples, while [f]the (J)inhabitants of Jerusalem again live on their own sites in Jerusalem. The Lord also will (K)save the tents of Judah first, so that the glory of the house of (L)David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem will not be greater than Judah. On that day the Lord will (M)protect the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the one who [g](N)is feeble among them on that day will be like David, and the house of David will be like (O)God, like the (P)angel of the Lord before them. And on that day I will (Q)seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

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Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 12:2 Lit of reeling
  2. Zechariah 12:4 Lit open My eyes
  3. Zechariah 12:5 Or chiefs
  4. Zechariah 12:5 Lit strength for me
  5. Zechariah 12:6 Or chiefs
  6. Zechariah 12:6 Lit Jerusalem...is again inhabited on its
  7. Zechariah 12:8 Lit stumbles

Jerusalem’s Enemies to Be Destroyed

12 A prophecy:(A) The word of the Lord concerning Israel.

The Lord, who stretches out the heavens,(B) who lays the foundation of the earth,(C) and who forms the human spirit within a person,(D) declares: “I am going to make Jerusalem a cup(E) that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling.(F) Judah(G) will be besieged as well as Jerusalem. On that day, when all the nations(H) of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock(I) for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure(J) themselves. On that day I will strike every horse with panic and its rider with madness,” declares the Lord. “I will keep a watchful eye over Judah, but I will blind all the horses of the nations.(K) Then the clans of Judah will say in their hearts, ‘The people of Jerusalem are strong,(L) because the Lord Almighty is their God.’

“On that day I will make the clans of Judah like a firepot(M) in a woodpile, like a flaming torch among sheaves. They will consume(N) all the surrounding peoples right and left, but Jerusalem will remain intact(O) in her place.

“The Lord will save the dwellings of Judah first, so that the honor of the house of David and of Jerusalem’s inhabitants may not be greater than that of Judah.(P) On that day the Lord will shield(Q) those who live in Jerusalem, so that the feeblest(R) among them will be like David, and the house of David will be like God,(S) like the angel of the Lord going before(T) them. On that day I will set out to destroy all the nations(U) that attack Jerusalem.(V)

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God Will Battle Jerusalem’s Enemies

14 Behold, a (A)day is coming for the Lord when (B)the spoils taken from you will be divided among you. For I will (C)gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city will be taken, the (D)houses plundered, the women raped, and half of the city exiled, but the rest of the people will not be eliminated from the city. Then the Lord will go forth and (E)fight against those nations, as [a]when He fights on a day of battle. On that day His feet will (F)stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be (G)split [b]in its middle from east to west forming a very large valley. Half of the mountain will move toward the north, and the other half toward the south. And you will flee by the valley of My mountains, for the valley of the mountains will reach to Azel; yes, you will flee just as you fled from the (H)earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. (I)Then the Lord, my God, will come, and all the holy ones with [c]Him!

On that day there will be (J)no light; the [d]luminaries will die out. For it will be (K)a unique day which is (L)known to the Lord, neither day nor night, but it will come about that at the (M)time of evening there will be light.

And on that day (N)living waters will flow out of Jerusalem, half of them toward the eastern sea and the other half toward the western sea; it will be in summer as well as in winter.

God Will Be King over All

And the Lord will be (O)King over all the earth; on that day the Lord will be the only (P)one, and His name the only one.

10 All the land will change into a plain from (Q)Geba to (R)Rimmon south of Jerusalem; but [e]Jerusalem will (S)rise and (T)remain on its site from (U)Benjamin’s Gate as far as the place of the First Gate to the (V)Corner Gate, and from the (W)Tower of Hananel to the king’s wine presses. 11 People will live in it, and there will (X)no longer be a curse, for Jerusalem will (Y)live in security.

12 Now this will be the plague with which the Lord will strike all the peoples who have gone to war against Jerusalem; their flesh will (Z)rot while they stand on their feet, and their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongue will rot in their mouth. 13 And it will come about on that day that a great panic from the Lord will [f]fall on them; and they will (AA)seize one another’s hand, and the hand of one will [g]be raised against the hand of another. 14 (AB)Judah also will fight at Jerusalem; and the (AC)wealth of all the surrounding nations will be gathered, gold, silver, and garments in great abundance. 15 And just like this (AD)plague, there will be a plague on the horse, the mule, the camel, the donkey, and all the cattle that will be in those camps.

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Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 14:3 Lit a day of His fighting
  2. Zechariah 14:4 Lit from
  3. Zechariah 14:5 As in many mss and ancient versions; MT You
  4. Zechariah 14:6 Lit glorious ones will congeal
  5. Zechariah 14:10 Lit it
  6. Zechariah 14:13 Lit be among
  7. Zechariah 14:13 Lit rise

The Lord Comes and Reigns

14 A day of the Lord(A) is coming, Jerusalem, when your possessions(B) will be plundered and divided up within your very walls.

I will gather all the nations(C) to Jerusalem to fight against it;(D) the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped.(E) Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city.(F) Then the Lord will go out and fight(G) against those nations, as he fights on a day of battle.(H) On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives,(I) east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split(J) in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south. You will flee by my mountain valley, for it will extend to Azel. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake[a](K) in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the Lord my God will come,(L) and all the holy ones with him.(M)

On that day there will be neither sunlight(N) nor cold, frosty darkness. It will be a unique(O) day—a day known only to the Lord—with no distinction between day and night.(P) When evening comes, there will be light.(Q)

On that day living water(R) will flow(S) out from Jerusalem, half of it east(T) to the Dead Sea and half of it west to the Mediterranean Sea, in summer and in winter.(U)

The Lord will be king(V) over the whole earth.(W) On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name.(X)

10 The whole land, from Geba(Y) to Rimmon,(Z) south of Jerusalem, will become like the Arabah. But Jerusalem will be raised up(AA) high from the Benjamin Gate(AB) to the site of the First Gate, to the Corner Gate,(AC) and from the Tower of Hananel(AD) to the royal winepresses, and will remain in its place.(AE) 11 It will be inhabited;(AF) never again will it be destroyed. Jerusalem will be secure.(AG)

12 This is the plague with which the Lord will strike(AH) all the nations that fought against Jerusalem: Their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths.(AI) 13 On that day people will be stricken by the Lord with great panic.(AJ) They will seize each other by the hand and attack one another.(AK) 14 Judah(AL) too will fight at Jerusalem. The wealth of all the surrounding nations will be collected(AM)—great quantities of gold and silver and clothing. 15 A similar plague(AN) will strike the horses and mules, the camels and donkeys, and all the animals in those camps.

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Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 14:5 Or My mountain valley will be blocked and will extend to Azel. It will be blocked as it was blocked because of the earthquake

Final Admonition

[a]For behold, the day is coming, (A)burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be (B)chaff; and the day that is coming will (C)set them ablaze,” says the Lord of armies, “so that it will leave them neither root nor branches. But for you who [b]fear My name, the (D)sun of righteousness will rise with (E)healing in its wings; and you will go forth and (F)frolic like calves from the stall. And you will (G)crush the wicked underfoot, for they will be (H)ashes under the soles of your feet (I)on the day [c]that I am preparing,” says the Lord of armies.

(J)Remember the Law of Moses My servant, the statutes and ordinances which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel.

“Behold, I am going to send you (K)Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. Malachi 4:1 Ch 3:19 in Heb
  2. Malachi 4:2 Or revere
  3. Malachi 4:3 Or when I act

Judgment and Covenant Renewal

[a]“Surely the day is coming;(A) it will burn like a furnace.(B) All the arrogant(C) and every evildoer will be stubble,(D) and the day that is coming will set them on fire,(E)” says the Lord Almighty. “Not a root or a branch(F) will be left to them. But for you who revere my name,(G) the sun of righteousness(H) will rise with healing(I) in its rays. And you will go out and frolic(J) like well-fed calves. Then you will trample(K) on the wicked; they will be ashes(L) under the soles of your feet on the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty.

“Remember the law(M) of my servant Moses, the decrees and laws I gave him at Horeb(N) for all Israel.(O)

“See, I will send the prophet Elijah(P) to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes.(Q)

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Footnotes

  1. Malachi 4:1 In Hebrew texts 4:1-6 is numbered 3:19-24.

The Harvest

14 Then I looked, and behold, a (A)white cloud, and sitting on the cloud was one (B)like [a]a son of man, with a golden (C)crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand. 15 And another angel (D)came out of the [b]temple, calling out with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “[c](E)Put in your sickle and reap, for the hour to reap has come, because the (F)harvest of the earth [d]is ripe.” 16 Then He who sat on the cloud [e]swung His sickle over the earth, and the earth was reaped.

17 And another angel (G)came out of the [f]temple which is in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle. 18 Then another angel, (H)the one who has power over fire, came out from (I)the altar; and he called with a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “[g](J)Put in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters [h]from the vine of the earth, (K)because her grapes are ripe.” 19 So the angel [i]swung his sickle to the earth and gathered the clusters from the vine of the earth, and threw them into (L)the great wine press of the wrath of God. 20 And (M)the wine press was trampled (N)outside the city, and (O)blood came out from the wine press, up to the horses’ bridles, [j]for a distance of [k]1,600 stadia.

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 14:14 Or the Son of Man
  2. Revelation 14:15 Or sanctuary
  3. Revelation 14:15 Lit Send forth
  4. Revelation 14:15 Lit has become dry
  5. Revelation 14:16 Lit cast
  6. Revelation 14:17 Or sanctuary
  7. Revelation 14:18 Lit Send forth
  8. Revelation 14:18 Lit of
  9. Revelation 14:19 Lit cast
  10. Revelation 14:20 Lit from
  11. Revelation 14:20 Possibly about 184 miles or 296 km; a Roman stadion perhaps averaged 607 ft. or 185 m

Harvesting the Earth and Trampling the Winepress

14 I looked, and there before me was a white cloud,(A) and seated on the cloud was one like a son of man[a](B) with a crown(C) of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15 Then another angel came out of the temple(D) and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, “Take your sickle(E) and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest(F) of the earth is ripe.” 16 So he who was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested.

17 Another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle.(G) 18 Still another angel, who had charge of the fire, came from the altar(H) and called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, “Take your sharp sickle(I) and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth’s vine, because its grapes are ripe.” 19 The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath.(J) 20 They were trampled in the winepress(K) outside the city,(L) and blood(M) flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses’ bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 14:14 See Daniel 7:13.
  2. Revelation 14:20 That is, about 180 miles or about 300 kilometers

12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the (A)great river, the Euphrates; and (B)its water was dried up, so that (C)the way would be prepared for the kings (D)from the [a]east.

Har-Magedon (Armageddon)

13 And I saw coming out of the mouth of the (E)dragon, and out of the mouth of the (F)beast, and out of the mouth of the (G)false prophet, three (H)unclean spirits like (I)frogs; 14 for they are (J)spirits of demons, (K)performing signs, which go out to the kings of the (L)entire [b]world, to (M)gather them together for the war of the (N)great day of God, the Almighty. 15 (“Behold, (O)I am coming like a thief. (P)Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, (Q)so that he will not walk about naked and people will not see his shame.”) 16 And they (R)gathered them together to the place which (S)in Hebrew is called (T)Har-Magedon.

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 16:12 Lit rising of the sun
  2. Revelation 16:14 Lit inhabited earth

12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates,(A) and its water was dried up to prepare the way(B) for the kings from the East.(C) 13 Then I saw three impure spirits(D) that looked like frogs;(E) they came out of the mouth of the dragon,(F) out of the mouth of the beast(G) and out of the mouth of the false prophet.(H) 14 They are demonic spirits(I) that perform signs,(J) and they go out to the kings of the whole world,(K) to gather them for the battle(L) on the great day(M) of God Almighty.

15 “Look, I come like a thief!(N) Blessed is the one who stays awake(O) and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.”(P)

16 Then they gathered the kings together(Q) to the place that in Hebrew(R) is called Armageddon.(S)

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19 And I saw (A)the beast and (B)the kings of the earth and their armies, assembled to make war against Him who (C)sat on the horse, and against His army.

Doom of the Beast and False Prophet

20 And the beast was seized, and with him the (D)false prophet who (E)performed the signs [a](F)in his presence, by which he (G)deceived those who had received the (H)mark of the beast and those who (I)worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the (J)lake of (K)fire, which burns with [b]brimstone. 21 And the rest were killed with the sword which (L)came from the mouth of Him who (M)sat on the horse, and (N)all the birds were filled with their flesh.

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 19:20 Or by his authority
  2. Revelation 19:20 I.e., burning sulfur

19 Then I saw the beast(A) and the kings of the earth(B) and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse(C) and his army. 20 But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet(D) who had performed the signs(E) on its behalf.(F) With these signs he had deluded(G) those who had received the mark of the beast(H) and worshiped its image.(I) The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake(J) of burning sulfur.(K) 21 The rest were killed with the sword(L) coming out of the mouth of the rider on the horse,(M) and all the birds(N) gorged themselves on their flesh.

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