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Open English Translation JOEL

This is still a very early look into the unfinished text of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check the text in advance before using in public.

Readers’ Version

Literal Version

JOL - Open English Translation—Readers’ Version (OET-RV) v0.1.00

ESFM v0.6 JOL

WORDTABLE OET-LV_OT_word_table.tsv

Yoel (Joel)

Jol

ESFM v0.6 JOL

WORDTABLE OET-LV_OT_word_table.tsv

The parsed Hebrew text used to create this file is Copyright © 2019 by https://hb.
openscriptures.org

Our English glosses are released CC0 by https://Freely-Given.org

ESFM file created 2025-04-30 11:44 by extract_glossed_OSHB_OT_to_ESFM v0.59

USFM file edited by ScriptedBibleEditor v0.33

ʼēl

Introduction

This account was written around 400-500 B.C., at a time when other nations were being ruled over by the Persian kings. Yahweh’s message is brought to the people via Petuel’s son, Yoel (Joel).

This document was written because God’s revelation to Yoel included warnings about his coming judgement and punishment of the surrounding nations, known as Yahweh’s day. When that day arrived, it would be the time for God’s punishment of all those who had disobeyed him. The prophet explained that Yahweh was calling his people to turn away from their sinful lifestyles, and then he followed this up wwith a promise that his people would again live peaceful and prosperous lives and receive his blessings. It’s also recorded here how Yahweh promised to send his spirit to all people groups.

Main components of this document

The plague of destruction by locusts 1:1-2:17

The promise of restoration of a peaceful life 2:18-27

Yahweh’s day of action 2:28-3:21

This is still a very early look into the unfinished text of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check the text in advance before using in public.

1This is Yahweh’s message that came to Petuel’s son Yoel (Joel):

1The_word_of YHWH which it_came to ʼēl the_son_of Pəʼēl.

2Hear this, you elders,

and listen, all you people that live in this country.

Has this sort of thing ever happened in your lifetime

or in the days of your ancestors?

3Tell your children about it,

and your children to their children,

and their children to the following generation.

4What the cutting locusts left behind, the swarming locusts have eaten,

and what the swarming locusts left behind, the hopping locusts have eaten,

and what the hopping locusts left behind, the destroying locusts have eaten.

5Wake up, drunkards, and weep.

Yes, wail, all you wine drinkers.

Wail about the sweet wine, because it’s all gone now.


6Because a powerful nation (of locusts) with innumerable soldiers has come against my land,

Its teeth are like lion’s teeth,

and the fangs are like those of a lioness.[ref]

7It’s made my grapevine into a piece of rubbish

and my fig tree into splinters.

Stripping everything, it’s stripped it and thrown it away.

Its branches have become white (without the bark).


8Mourn like a young woman dressed in sackcloth after losing her young husband.

9The grain offering and the drink offering have been discontinued at Yahweh’s temple.

The priests mourn—Yahweh’s servants.

10The countryside has been devastated.

The soil mourns, because the grain has been destroyed.

The new wine dried up,

The fresh oil isn’t good.

11Feel shame, farmers, for the wheat and for the barley.

Wail, vinedressers, because the harvest from the countryside has perished.

12The grapevine has dried up and the fig tree has been made weak.

The pomegranate tree, also the palm tree and the apple tree, all of the trees across the countryside have dried up.

So humanity’s joy has dried up.

13Get dressed in sackcloth and sing dirges, you priests.

Wail, you servants of the altar.

Come, spend the night in sackcloth, servants of my God,

because the grain offering and the drink offering have been withheld from the house of your God.

14Consecrate a fast,

call an assembly.

Gather the elders and all the residents of the country

to the house of Yahweh your God,

and cry out to Yahweh.

15What a terrible day,

because Yahweh’s day is near,

and it will come as destruction from the powerful one.[ref]


16Hasn’t our food been cut off right in front of our eyes,

and joy and gladness cut off from God’s house?

17The seeds have shrivelled under their clods.

The storehouses are in ruins.

The granaries have been torn down,

because the grain has dried up.

18How the livestock groan.

The herds of cattle are perplexed,

because there’s no pasture to graze.

Also the flocks of sheep have suffered.

19I call for help to you, Yahweh,

because fire has devoured the pastures in the wilderness,

and the flame has burned all the trees in the countryside.

20Even the wild animals pant for you,

because the streams of water have dried up,

and fire has destroyed the pastures in the wilderness.

2Hear this the_elders and_listen Oh_all_of the_inhabitants_of the_earth/land the_happened this in/on/at/with_days_of_your_all’s and_if in/on/at/with_days_of ancestors_of_your_all’s.
3About_it to_children_of_your_all’s recount and_children_of_your_all’s to_children_of_their and_children_of_their to_generation another.
4The_remainder_of the_cutting_locust it_has_eaten the_swarming_locust and_left_of the_swarming_locust it_has_eaten the_hopping_locust and_left_of the_hopping_locust it_has_eaten the_destroying_locust.
5Awake Oh_drunkards and_weep and_wail Oh_all_of you_all_who_drink_of (of)_wine on sweet_wine if/because it_has_been_cut_off from_mouth_of_your_all’s.
6If/because a_nation it_has_come_up on land_of_my it_is_mighty and_without number teeth_of_its are_the_teeth_of a_lion and_fangs_of a_lion to_him/it.
7It_has_made vine_of_my to_waste and_fig_tree_of_my to_splintered completely_(strip_bare) stripped_bare_their and_thrown_down branches_of_their they_have_become_white.
8Wail like_virgin girded_of sackcloth on the_husband_of youth_of_her.
9grain_offering It_has_been_cut_off and_drink_offering from_house_of YHWH they_are_in_mourning the_priests (of)_YHWH who_serve_of.
10the_field[s] It_is_devastated the_ground it_is_dried_up if/because the_grain it_is_devastated the_new_wine it_has_dried_up the_fresh_oil it_has_languished.
11Be_ashamed Oh_farmers wail Oh_vinedressers on the_wheat and_over the_barley if/because the_harvest_of it_has_perished the_field.
12The_vine it_has_dried_up and_the_fig_tree it_has_languished the_pomegranate_tree also the_palm_tree and_apple_tree all_of the_trees_of the_field they_have_dried_up if/because joy it_has_been_ashamed from the_children_of humankind.
13gird_yourselves and_lament the_priests wail Oh_you_all_who_serve_of (of)_the_altar come spend_the_night in/on/at/with_sackcloth Oh_you_all_who_serve_of god_of_my if/because it_has_been_withheld from_house_of god_of_your_all’s grain_offering and_drink_offering.
14Consecrate a_fast call an_assembly gather the_elders all_of the_inhabitants_of the_earth/land the_house_of YHWH god_of_your_all’s and_cry_out to YHWH.
15Alas for_the_day if/because is_near the_day_of YHWH and_as_destruction from_almighty[fn] it_will_come.
16Am_not before eyes_of_our food has_it_been_cut_off from_house_of god_of_our joy and_gladness.
17the_seeds They_have_shrivelled under clods_of_their the_storehouses they_are_desolate the_granaries they_have_been_torn_down if/because the_grain it_has_dried_up.
18How the_livestock it_has_groaned the_herds_of they_have_wandered_in_confusion cattle if/because there_is_not pasture to/for_them also the_flocks_of the_sheep they_have_suffered.
19To_you Oh_YHWH I_call if/because fire it_has_consumed the_pastures_of the_wilderness and_flames it_has_set_ablaze all_of the_trees_of the_field.
20Also the_animals_of the_field it_pants for_you if/because the_channels_of they_have_dried_up water and_fire it_has_consumed the_pastures_of the_wilderness.

2Blow the shofar in Tsiyyon (Zion),

and shout on the mountain of my holiness.

Let all of the country’s residents tremble,

because Yahweh’s day is coming,

yes, it’s close.

2It’ll be a day of darkness and gloom

a day of clouds and thick darkness

like the dawn being spread out on the mountains.

There hasn’t been a great and mighty army like that since the beginning of time,

and after it there won’t be again for many generations.


3A devouring fire goes ahead of it,

and behind it a flame is burning.

Ahead of it, the land is like the garden of Eden,

but behind it is a wilderness of desolation,

and indeed, there’s no escape from it.

4At first, it appears like horses,

and they run like war horses.[ref]

5Like the sound of chariots, they leap along the tops of the hills—

like the sound of a flames devouring stubble,

like a mighty people organised for war.

6People flinch in horror when they see them coming.

All of their faces turn dark.[fn]

7They run like warriors.

Like men of war, they climb the wall.

Then they walk, each man choosing his own way forward,

and they don’t veer off their paths.

8There’s no jostling each other

each man marches straight forward.

They handle those who present weapons against them

and their progress isn’t interrupted.

9They rush upon the city.

They run along the wall.

They climb through the windows into the houses like thieves.


10The earth shakes as they approach.

The heavens tremble.

The sun and the moon become dark,

and the stars cease their shining.[ref]

11Yahweh speaks in front of his army,

because there’s a huge number of them,

because those executing his commands are very powerful.

Yes, Yahweh’s day is really terrible

and who could possibly survive it?[ref]

2give_a_blast_on a_ram’s_horn in/on/at/with_Tsiyyōn/(Zion) and_sound_the_alarm in/on/at/with_mountain_of holy_of_my all_of let_them_tremble the_inhabitants_of the_earth/land if/because the_day_of is_about_to_come of_YHWH if/because it_is_near.
2A_day_of darkness and_gloom a_day_of cloud and_thick_darkness like_dawn spread_out over the_mountains a_people numerous and_strong like_it not it_has_occurred since the_old and_after_it not it_will_repeat until years_of a_generation and_generation.
3In_front_of_them fire it_has_consumed and_behind_them a_flame it_sets_ablaze like_garden_of ˊĒden the_earth/land in_front_of_them and_behind_them a_wilderness_of desolation and_also escape not it_belongs for_him/it.
4Like_appearance_of horses appearance_of_their and_like_war_horses so run.
5With_sound_of chariots over the_tops_of the_mountains leap like_crackling_of a_flame_of fire which_consumes stubble like_army mighty deployed_of battle.
6From_before_of_them peoples they_are_in_anguish all_of faces they_gather a_glow.
7Like_warriors charge like_men_of war they_go_up a_wall and_each in/on/at/with_line_of_its_own march and_not swerve paths_of_their.
8And_each his/its_woman not jostle a_man in/on/at/with_path_of_his marches and_through the_weapons they_fall not they_stop.
9In/on/at/with_city they_rush in/on/at/with_wall run in/on/at/with_houses they_go_up through the_windows they_go like_a_thief.
10Before_face/front_them the_earth it_trembles the_heavens they_shake sun and_moon they_become_dark and_stars they_withdraw shining_of_their.
11And_YHWH he_gives_forth voice_of_his to_(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before army_of_his if/because is_great very camp_of_his if/because is_mighty the_one_who_does_of command_of_his if/because is_great the_day_of YHWH and_awesome exceedingly and_who endure_it.

12Yahweh declares: Still even now,

return to me with all of your hearts,

and with fasting and weeping, and with mourning.

13Yes, tear your hearts and not your clothes,

and return to your God Yahweh

because he’s gracious and merciful,

slow to get angry but displaying loyal commitment,

and relenting from sending disaster.

14Who knows? He might change his mind and relent

and leave a blessing after him:

grain and wine that you all can use as offerings for your God Yahweh.

15Blow the shofar in Tsiyyon,

declare a fast,

announce an assembly.

16Gather the people,

consecrate the congregation,

assemble the elders,

gather the children

and the ones suckling the breasts.

May the bridegroom come out from his chamber

and the bride from her room.

17Let Yahweh’s servants the priests weep between the porch and the altar.

And let them say, “Have pity upon your people, Yahweh,

and don’t allow others to mock the people that you inherited,

and then for other nations to rule over them.

Why should the other nations ask, ‘Where is their God?’ ”

12And_also now the_utterance_of YHWH return to_me in_all heart_of_your_all’s and_in/on/at/with_fasting and_in/on/at/with_weeping[fn] and_in/on/at/with_mourning.
13And_rend hearts_of_your_all’s and_not garments_of_your_all’s and_return to YHWH god_of_your_all’s if/because is_gracious and_compassionate he he_is_long_of anger(s) and_abounding_of covenant_loyalty and_relents on the_disaster.
14Who is_knowing he_will_turn and_relent and_leave behind_him a_blessing a_grain_offering and_drink_offering to/for_YHWH god_of_your_all’s.
15give_a_blast_on a_ram’s_horn in/on/at/with_Tsiyyōn/(Zion) consecrate a_fast call an_assembly.
16Gather the_people consecrate an_assembly gather the_elders gather children and_infants_of breasts let_him_go_out the_bridegroom from_room_of_his and_bride from_canopy_of_her.
17Between the_vestibule and_to_the_altar let_them_weep the_priests (of)_YHWH who_serve_of and_say spare Oh_YHWH on people_of_your and_not make inheritance_of_your to_reproach to_byword in/on/at/with_them nations to/for_what will_people_say in/on/at/with_peoples where god_of_their.

18Then Yahweh was jealous for his land,

and he had pity on his people.

19Then Yahweh answered and told his people,

“Listen, I’ll send you grain and new wine and oil,

and you all will have enough with it,

and I’ll no longer make you a country for the other nations to mock.

20And I will distance the northern army from upon you,

and I will banish them into a land of dryness and desolation

their face into the eastern sea

and their back into the western sea.

Their stench will rise,

and their odour will spread,

because they’ve made many powerful moves.”


21Don’t fear, land. Be glad and celebrate,

because Yahweh has been doing powerful things.

22Don’t worry, you animals in the countryside,

because the pastures in the wilderness have sprouted.

Because the tree has borne its fruit

the fig tree and the grapevine have produced their best.


23And be glad, you descendants of Tsiyyon (Zion),

and celebrate about your God Yahweh,

because he’s given you the early rain as vindication

and he’s brought down showers for you—

the early rains and the late rains like before.

24Then the threshing floors will be full of grain,

and the vats will overflow with grape juice and olive oil.

25“And I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust and the hopping locust,

the destroying locust and the cutting locust have eaten

my huge army that I sent among you.

26You’ll all eat and be full,

and you’ll praise the name of your God Yahweh,

who’s done miracles among you all,

and forever my people won’t feel shamed.

27Then you’ll all know that I’m right there in Israel

that I’m your God Yahweh and there isn’t any other,

and forever my people won’t feel shamed.

18And_ YHWH _jealous for_land_of_his and_had_pity on people_of_his.
19And_ YHWH _answered and_he/it_said to_people_of_his see_I am_about_to_send to/for_you_all DOM the_grain and_the_new_wine and_the_oil and_satisfied DOM_him/it and_not I_will_make DOM_you_all again a_reproach in/on/at/with_nations.
20And_DOM the_northern I_will_remove_far_away from_upon_you_all and_drive_it into a_land dryness and_desolate DOM his/its_faces/face into the_sea the_eastern and_rear_of_its into the_sea the_western stench_of_its and_he/it_would_go_up foul_smell_of_its and_rise if/because he_has_made_great for_doing.
21Do_not fear Oh_land be_glad and_glad if/because YHWH he_has_made_great for_doing.
22Do_not fear Oh_animals_of the_field if/because the_pastures_of they_are_green the_wilderness if/because the_tree[s] it_has_borne fruit_of_its the_fig_tree and_vine they_have_given riches_of_their.
23And_the_sons of_Tsiyyōn/(Zion) be_glad and_glad in/on/at/with_LORD god_of_your_all’s if/because he_has_given to/for_you_all DOM the_early_rain for_vindication and_poured_down to/for_you_all rain early_rain and_spring_rain in/on/at/with_before.
24And_full the_threshing_floors grain and_overflow the_vats new_wine and_oil.
25And_repay to/for_you_all DOM the_years which it_has_eaten the_swarming_locust the_hopper and_the_destroyer and_the_cutter army_of_my the_great which I_sent in/on/at/with_you_all.
26And_will_eat eating and_satisfied and_praise DOM the_name_of YHWH god_of_your_all’s who he_has_dealt with_you_all to_wondrously and_not people_of_my they_will_be_ashamed to_forever.
27And_know if/because_that in/on/at/with_midst_of Yisrāʼēl/(Israel) I and_I am_YHWH god_of_your_all’s and_there_is_no yet and_not they_will_be_ashamed people_of_my to_forever.

28And it will happen after that,

that I’ll pour out my spirit onto all peoples,

and your sons and your daughters will prophesy.

Your elderly will dream dreams,

Your young people will see visions.

29At that time I’ll pour out my spirit

even on the male and female slaves.

3[fn] and_it_was after thus I_will_pour_out DOM my_breath/wind/spirit on all_of flesh sons_of_your_all’s and_prophesy and_daughters_of_your_all’s old_of_your_all’s dreams dream young_men_of_your_all’s visions they_will_see.
2[fn] and_also on the_male_slaves and_on the_female_slaves in_the_days the_those I_will_pour_out DOM my_breath/wind/spirit.
3[fn] and_show wonders in/on/at/with_heavens and_in/on/at/with_earth blood and_fire and_columns_of smoke.
4[fn] the_sun it_will_be_changed to_darkness and_the_moon to_blood to_(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before comes the_day_of YHWH the_great and_the_awesome.
5[fn] and_it_was every one_who he_will_call in/on_name_of YHWH he_will_escape if/because in/on/at/with_mount_of Tsiyyōn/(Zion) and_in/on/at/with_Yərūshālam/(Jerusalem) it_will_be an_escaped_remnant as_what he_has_said YHWH and_in/on/at/with_survivors those_whom YHWH will_be_calling.
4[fn] if/because there in_the_days the_those and_in/on/at/with_time the_that when I_will_turn_back[fn] DOM the_captivity_of Yəhūdāh/(Judah) and_Yərūshālam.
2[fn] and_gather DOM all_of the_nations and_bring_down_them to the_valley_of Yəhōshāfāţ/(Jehoshaphat) and_enter_into_judgement with_them there on people_of_my and_inheritance_of_my Yisrāʼēl/(Israel) which they_have_scattered in/on/at/with_nations and_DOM land_of_my they_have_divided_up.
3[fn] and_near/to people_of_my they_have_throw a_lot and_traded the_boy in/on/at/with_prostitute and_the_girl they_have_sold in/on/at/with_wine and_drink.
4[fn] and_also what are_you_all to_me Oh_Tsor/(Tyre) and_Tsīdōn/(Sidon) and_all/each/any/every the_territories_of Philistia the_what_is_deserved are_you_all repaying to_me and_if making_recompense are_you_all with_me swift quickly I_will_return deeds_of_your_all’s in/on/at/with_heads_of_your_all’s.
5[fn] that silver_of_my and_gold_of_my you_all_took and_treasures_of_my the_finest you_all_took to_temples_of_your_all’s.
6[fn] and_the_sons of_Yəhūdāh and_the_sons of_Yərūshālam/(Jerusalem) you_all_sold to_sons_of the_Greeks so_as remove_far_them from_under border_of_their.
7[fn] look_I rouse_of_them from the_place where you_all_sold DOM_them  there_to and_return deeds_of_your_all’s in/on/at/with_heads_of_your_all’s.
8[fn] and_sell DOM sons_of_your_all’s and_DOM daughters_of_your_all’s in/on/at/with_hand_of the_people_of Yəhūdāh/(Judah) and_sell_them to_Sabeans to a_nation distant if/because YHWH he_has_spoken.
9[fn] proclaim this in/on/at/with_nations consecrate a_war rouse the_warriors let_them_draw_near let_them_go_up all_of the_men_of the_war.
10[fn] beat plowshares_of_your_all’s into_swords and_pruning_hooks_of_your_all’s into_spears the_weakling let_him_say am_a_warrior I.
11[fn] hurry and_come Oh_all_of the_nations from_all_around and_gather there_at bring_down Oh_YHWH warriors_of_your.
12[fn] let_them_be_roused and_come_up the_nations to the_valley_of Yəhōshāfāţ/(Jehoshaphat) if/because there I_will_sit to_judge DOM all_of the_nations from_surrounding.
13[fn] send_out the_sickle if/because the_harvest it_has_grown_ripe come tread if/because the_winepress it_is_full they_are_overflowing the_vats if/because is_great wickedness_of_their.
14[fn] multitudes multitudes in/on/at/with_valley_of the_decision if/because is_near the_day_of YHWH in/on/at/with_valley_of the_decision.
15[fn] sun and_moon they_have_become_dark and_stars they_have_withdrawn shining_of_their.
16[fn] and_LORD from_Tsiyyōn/(Zion) he_will_roar and_from_Yərūshālam/(Jerusalem) he_will_give_forth voice_of_his and_ heaven _shake and_earth and_YHWH will_be_a_refuge for_people_of_his and_stronghold for_people_of Yisrāʼēl/(Israel).
17[fn] and_know if/because_that I am_YHWH god_of_your_all’s who_dwells in/on/at/with_Tsiyyōn the_mountain_of holy_of_my and_be Yərūshālam a_holy_place and_strangers not they_will_pass in/on/at/with_it again.
18[fn] and_it_was in/on/at/with_day (the)_that they_will_drip the_mountains sweet_wine and_the_hills they_will_go milk and_all the_ravines_of Yəhūdāh/(Judah) they_will_go water and_spring from_house_of YHWH it_will_go_forth and_it_watered DOM the_wadi_of the_Shiţţīm.
19[fn] Miʦrayim/(Egypt) to_desolation it_will_become and_ʼEdōm to_wilderness_of desolation it_will_become because_of_violence_of the_people_of Yəhūdāh whom they_shed blood innocent in/on/at/with_land_of_their.
20[fn] and_Yəhūdāh/(Yihudah) to_forever it_will_remain and_Yərūshālam to_generation and_generation.
21[fn] and_avenge bloodguilt_of_their which_not I_left_unpunished and_YHWH is_dwelling in/on/at/with_Tsiyyōn/(Zion).

1:15 OSHB note: We agree with both BHS 1997 and BHQ on an unexpected reading.

2:12 OSHB note: We agree with both BHS 1997 and BHQ on an unexpected reading.

3:1 Note: KJB: Yōʼēl/(Joel).2.28

3:2 Note: KJB: Yōʼēl.2.29

3:3 Note: KJB: Yōʼēl.2.30

3:4 Note: KJB: Yōʼēl.2.31

3:5 Note: KJB: Yōʼēl.2.32

4:1 Note: KJB: Yōʼēl.3.1

4:1 OSHB variant note: אשוב: (x-qere) ’אָשִׁ֛יב’: lemma_7725 n_0.0.0 morph_HVhi1cs id_29VRt אָשִׁ֛יב

4:2 Note: KJB: Yōʼēl/(Joel).3.2

4:3 Note: KJB: Yōʼēl.3.3

4:4 Note: KJB: Yōʼēl.3.4

4:5 Note: KJB: Yōʼēl.3.5

4:6 Note: KJB: Yōʼēl.3.6

4:7 Note: KJB: Yōʼēl.3.7

4:8 Note: KJB: Yōʼēl/(Joel).3.8

4:9 Note: KJB: Yōʼēl.3.9

4:10 Note: KJB: Yōʼēl.3.10

4:11 Note: KJB: Yōʼēl.3.11

4:12 Note: KJB: Yōʼēl.3.12

4:13 Note: KJB: Yōʼēl.3.13

4:14 Note: KJB: Yōʼēl.3.14

4:15 Note: KJB: Yōʼēl/(Joel).3.15

4:16 Note: KJB: Yōʼēl.3.16

4:17 Note: KJB: Yōʼēl.3.17

4:18 Note: KJB: Yōʼēl.3.18

4:19 Note: KJB: Yōʼēl.3.19

4:20 Note: KJB: Yōʼēl.3.20

4:21 Note: KJB: Yōʼēl/(Joel).3.21

30Then I’ll do miracles in the skies and on the earth—

blood and fire and columns of smoke.

31The sun will be turned into darkness

and the moon into blood,

ahead of the coming of Yahweh’s incredible yet scary day.[ref]

32Then it will happen that everyone who calls on Yahweh’s name will be saved,

because on Mt. Tsiyyon and in Yerushalem there’ll be a way of escape just as Yahweh has said,

and among the survivors who Yahweh is calling.[ref]

3Because listen, in those days and at that time

when I return those who were taken away as captives from Yehudah and Yerushalem,

2then I’ll gather all the nations,

and bring them down to Yehoshafat’s valley.

Then I’ll judge them there

because they scattered my people, Israel my inheritance, among the nations

and they divided up my land.

3Then they threw dice to decide who’d get my people—

they traded a boy for a prostitute,

and sold a girl for wine so they could drink.

4Tyre, Sidon, and all of the regions of Philistia, what are you to me?

Are you trying to get even with me?

If you are, I’ll very quickly deflect your actions back on yourselves,[ref]

5because you took my gold and silver,

and you took my precious treasures into your temples.

6Then you sold the people of Yehudah and Yerushalem to the Greeks,

so that they’d be taken far away from their homeland.

7Listen, I’ll stir them up there in the place where you sold them,

and I’ll deflect your behaviour back on yourselves,

8because I’ll sell your sons and daughters to the people of Yehudah,

and they’ll sell them to the Sabeans—to a faraway nation.”

Yes, Yahweh has spoken.

9Proclaim this among the nations:

Prepare for war.

Arm the warriors!

Let them approach.

Let all the men of war start coming.

10Hammer your plough blades into swords

and your pruning hooks into spears.

Let the weak say, ‘I am strong.’[ref]

11Hurry and come all you surrounding nations,

and gather yourselves there.”


Yahweh, send down your warriors.


12“Let the nations rouse themselves

and come to Yehoshafat’s valley,

because I’ll sit there to judge all the surrounding nations.

13Swing the sickle because the harvest has ripened.

Come on, go down, because the winepress is full.

The vats overflow, because their wickedness is great.”

14Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision,

because Yahweh’s day is near in the valley of decision.

15The sun and the moon become dark,

and the stars withheld their brightness.

16Yahweh will roar from Tsiyyon (Zion),

and from Yerushalem he’ll utter his voice,

and the heavens and the earth will shake.

But Yahweh will be a shelter for his people

and a stronghold for the Israelis.[ref]

17“Then you will know that I’m your God Yahweh,

living in Tsiyyon, on my sacred mountain.

Then Yerushalem will be sacred,

and foreign warriors won’t pass through it again.

18Then at that time, the mountains will drip sweet wine,

and the hills will flow with milk,

and all of Yehudah’s streams will flow with water,

and a spring will go forth from Yahweh’s residence and water the Shittim valley.


19Egypt will become uninhabited,

and Edom will become a lonely wilderness

because of the violence of the people of Yehudah—

they shed innocent blood in their country.

20But Yehudah will remain forever,

and Yerushalem will continue throughout the generations,

21and I will declare their blood to be innocent (which I hadn’t done previously),

because Yahweh resides in Tsiyyon.”


Joel 2:6b We don’t have a good understanding of an uncommon Hebrew word used here, so other translations might differ.