God’s Response to His People

18 Then the Lord became jealous for his land(A) and spared his people.(B) 19 The Lord answered his people:

Look, I am about to send you
grain, new wine, and fresh oil.(C)
You will be satiated with them,
and I will no longer make you
a disgrace among the nations.(D)

20 I will drive the northerner far from you(E)
and banish him to a dry and desolate land,
his front ranks into the Dead Sea,(F)
and his rear guard into the Mediterranean Sea.(G)
His stench will rise;
yes, his rotten smell will rise,(H)
for he has done astonishing things.

21 Don’t be afraid, land;(I)
rejoice and be glad,
for the Lord has done astonishing things.(J)
22 Don’t be afraid, wild animals,
for the wilderness pastures have turned green,(K)
the trees bear their fruit,
and the fig tree and grapevine yield their riches.
23 Children of Zion,(L) rejoice and be glad
in the Lord your God,(M)
because he gives you the autumn rain[a]
for your vindication.[b](N)
He sends showers for you,
both autumn and spring rain(O) as before.
24 The threshing floors will be full of grain,(P)
and the vats will overflow
with new wine and fresh oil.

25 I will repay you for the years
that the swarming locust ate,(Q)
the young locust, the destroying locust,
and the devouring locust—
my great army that I sent against you.
26 You will have plenty to eat and be satisfied.(R)
You will praise the name of the Lord your God,(S)
who has dealt wondrously with you.(T)
My people will never again be put to shame.(U)
27 You will know that I am present in Israel(V)
and that I am the Lord your God,
and there is no other.(W)
My people will never again be put to shame.(X)

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Footnotes

  1. 2:23 Or the teacher of righteousness
  2. 2:23 Or righteousness

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.