The Lord Judges the Nations

[a] “For behold, (A)in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, (B)I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. And (C)I will enter into judgment with them there, on behalf of my people and my heritage Israel, because they have scattered them among the nations and have divided up my land, and (D)have cast lots for my people, and have traded a boy for a prostitute, and have sold a girl for wine and have drunk it.

“What are you to me, (E)O Tyre and Sidon, and all (F)the regions of Philistia? Are you paying me back for something? If you are paying me back, (G)I will return your payment on your own head swiftly and speedily. For (H)you have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried my rich treasures into your temples.[b] You have sold (I)the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks in order to remove them far from their own border. Behold, I will stir them up from the place to which you have sold them, and (J)I will return your payment on your own head. I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the (K)Sabeans, to a nation far away, for the Lord has spoken.”

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Footnotes

  1. Joel 3:1 Ch 4:1 in Hebrew
  2. Joel 3:5 Or palaces

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