\NormalFont\ShortTitle{Joel}
{\MT Joel

\par }\PoetryChap{1}{\Q \VerseOne{1}The
{\ND{
Lord}}’s
message
that
came
to
Joel,
son
of
Pethuel.
\par }{\SH Locust
plague
and
drought
\par }{\Q \VS{2}Hear
this,
elders,
\par }{\QB pay
attention,
all
inhabitants
of
the
land.
\par }{\Q Has
anything
like
this
happened
in
your
days,
\par }{\QB or
in
the
days
of
your
ancestors?
\par }{\Q \VS{3}Recount
it
to
your
children;
\par }{\QB let
your
children
tell
it
to
their
children,
\par }{\QB and
their
children
to
the
generation
that
follows.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{4}That
which
the
cutting
locust
has
left,
\par }{\QB the
swarming
locust
has
eaten,
\par }{\Q that
which
the
swarming
locust
has
left,
\par }{\QB the hopping
locust
has
eaten,
\par }{\Q and
that
which
the hopping
locust
has
left,
\par }{\QB the
destroying
locust
has
eaten.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{5}Awake,
drunkards,
and
weep,
\par }{\QB and
wail,
all
drinkers
of
wine;
\par }{\QB the
new
wine
is
cut
off
from
your
mouth.
\par }{\Q \VS{6}For
a
nation
has
come
up
on
my
land,
\par }{\QB powerful,
and numberless;
\par }{\Q its
teeth
are
the
teeth
of
a
lion,
\par }{\QB and
its jaw-teeth
are
like
those
of
a
lioness.
\par }{\Q \VS{7}It
has
laid
waste
my
vines,
\par }{\QB and
barked
my
fig
tree;
\par }{\Q it
has
peeled
and
cast
it
away,
\par }{\QB bleached
are
the
branches.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{8}Wail
as
a
bride,
clad
in sack-cloth,
\par }{\QB for
the
husband
of
her
youth.
\par }{\Q \VS{9}Cut
off
are
the cereal
and drink-offerings
\par }{\QB from
the
house
of
the
{\ND{
Lord}};
\par }{\Q in
mourning
are
the
priests,
\par }{\QB who
minister
at
the
{\ND{
Lord}}’s
altar.
\par }{\Q \VS{10}The
fields
are
blasted,
\par }{\QB the
land
is
in
mourning,
\par }{\Q for
ruined
is
the
corn,
\par }{\QB the
new
wine
fails
\par }{\QB and
the
oil
is
dried
up.
\par }{\Q \VS{11}Be
dismayed,
farmers;
\par }{\QB wail, vine-dressers.
\par }{\Q For
the
wheat
and
the
barley;
\par }{\QB for
the
harvest
is
lost
from
the
fields.
\par }{\Q \VS{12}The
vine
fails
to
bear
fruit,
\par }{\QB and
the
fig
tree
is drooping;
\par }{\Q the
pomegranate,
palm,
and
apple,
\par }{\QB all
the
trees
of
the
field
are
dried
up.
\par }{\Q The
people’s
joy
withers.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{13}Put
on
sackcloth,
and
beat
your
breasts,
priests;
\par }{\QB wail,
ministers
of
the
altar;
\par }{\QB come,
lie
all
night
in sack-cloth,
ministers
of
God;
\par }{\Q for cereal-offering
and drink-offering
\par }{\QB are
cut
off
from
the
house
of
your
God.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{14}Sanctify
a
fast,
\par }{\QB summon
an
assembly,
\par }{\Q gather
the
elders
and
all
the
inhabitants
of
the
land
\par }{\QB into
the
house
of
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
your
God,
\par }{\Q cry
to
the
{\ND{
Lord}}:
\par }{\QB \VS{15}Alas
for
the
day!
\par }{\Q Near
at
hand
is
the
day
of
the
{\ND{
Lord}},
\par }{\QB and
as
destruction
from
the
Almighty
it
comes.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{16}Is
not
food
cut
off
\par }{\QB from
before
us,
\par }{\Q gladness
and
joy
\par }{\QB from
the
house
of
our
God?
\par }{\Q \VS{17}The
grains
shrivel
under
their
hoes,
\par }{\QB the
storehouses
are
desolate,
\par }{\QB the
barns
broken
down,
\par }{\QB for
the
corn
is
withered.
\par }{\Q \VS{18}How
the
herds
of
cattle
bellow
in
distress,
\par }{\QB for
they
have
no
pasture!
\par }{\Q The
flocks
of
sheep
are
forlorn.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{19}To
you,
the
{\ND{
Lord}},
I
cry.
\par }{\Q For
fire
has
devoured
\par }{\QB the
pastures
of
the
wilderness,
\par }{\QB and
flame
has
scorched
\par }{\QB all
the
trees
of
the
field.
\par }{\Q \VS{20}The
wild
animals
also
look
up
to
you
longingly,
\par }{\QB for
the water-courses
are
dried
up,
\par }{\QB and
fire
has
devoured
the
pastures
of
the
wilderness.
\par }{\BB \par }
\PoetryChap{2}{\Q \VerseOne{1}Blow
a
horn
in
Zion,
\par }{\QB sound
an
alarm
in
my
holy
mountain,
\par }{\Q let
all
the
inhabitants
of
the
land
tremble,
\par }{\QB for
the
day
of
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
comes,
\par }{\QB for
near
is
\VS{2}the
day
of
darkness
and
gloom,
\par }{\QB the
day
of
cloud
and
thick
darkness!
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q Like
the
light
of
dawn
scattered
over
the
mountains,
\par }{\QB a
people
great
and
powerful;
\par }{\Q its
like
has
not
been
from
of
old,
\par }{\QB neither
will
be
any
more
after
it,
\par }{\QB even
to
the
years
of
coming
ages.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{3}Before
them
the
fire
devours,
\par }{\QB and
behind
them
a
flame
burns;
\par }{\Q like
the
garden
of
Eden
is
the
land
before
them,
\par }{\QB and
after
them
it
is
a
desolate
desert,
\par }{\Q nothing
escapes
them.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{4}Their
appearance
is
as
the
appearance
of
horses,
\par }{\QB and
like
horsemen
they
charge.
\par }{\Q \VS{5}Like
the
sound
of
chariots
on
the
tops
of
the
mountains
they
leap,
\par }{\QB like
the crackle
of
flames
devouring
stubble,
\par }{\Q like
a
mighty
people
preparing
for
battle.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{6}Peoples
are
in
anguish
before
them,
\par }{\QB all
faces
grow
pale.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{7}Like
mighty
men
they
run,
\par }{\QB like
warriors
they
mount
up
a
wall,
\par }{\Q they
march
each
by
himself,
\par }{\QB they
break
not
their
ranks,
\par }{\Q \VS{8}none jostles
the
other.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q They
march
each
in
his
path.
\par }{\QB They
fall
upon
the
weapons
without
breaking.
\par }{\Q \VS{9}They
scour
the
city,
they
run
on
the
wall.
\par }{\QB They
climb
up
into
the
houses.
\par }{\Q Like
a
thief
they
enter
the
windows.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{10}Earth
trembles
before
them,
\par }{\QB the
sky
quakes,
\par }{\Q the
sun
and
moon
become
dark,
\par }{\QB and
the
stars
withdraw
their
shining;
\par }{\Q \VS{11}and
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
utters
his
voice
before
his
army,
\par }{\QB for
his
host
is
exceedingly
great.
\par }{\Q Mighty
is
he
who
performs
his
word.
\par }{\QB For
great
is
the
day
of
the
{\ND{
Lord}},
\par }{\Q it
is
terrible,
who
can
endure
it?
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{12}But
now
this
is
the
message
of
the
{\ND{
Lord}}:
\par }{\Q Turn
to
me
with
all
your
heart,
\par }{\QB and
with
fasting
and
weeping
and
mourning,
\par }{\Q \VS{13}rend
your
hearts
and
not
your
garments,
\par }{\QB and
turn
to
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
your
God;
\par }{\Q for
he
indeed
is
gracious
and
merciful,
\par }{\QB slow
to
anger
and
plenteous
in
love,
\par }{\Q and
relents
of
the
evil.
\par }{\Q \VS{14}Who
knows
but
he
will
turn
and
relent,
\par }{\QB and
leave
a
blessing
behind
him,
\par }{\QB a cereal
and drink-offering
for
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
your
God.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{15}Blow
a
horn
in
Zion,
\par }{\QB sanctify
a
fast,
summon
an
assembly,
\par }{\Q \VS{16}gather
the
people,
make
holy
the
congregation,
\par }{\QB assemble
the
elders,
\par }{\Q gather
the
children,
\par }{\QB and
the
infants
at
the
breast.
\par }{\Q Let
the
bridegroom
come
forth
from
his
chamber,
\par }{\QB and
the
bride
from
her
bridal
tent.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{17}Between
the
porch
and
the
altar,
\par }{\Q let
the
priests,
the
ministers
of
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
weep
aloud,
\par }{\Q let
them
say:
\par }{\QB Spare,
the
{\ND{
Lord}},
your
people.
\par }{\QB Make
not
your
heritage
an
object
of
reproach,
\par }{\QB for
the
heathen
to
mock
them.
\par }{\QB Why
should
it
be
said
among
the
nations, “Where
is
their
God?”
\par }{\SH Future
blessings
\par }{\PP \VS{18}Then
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
became
deeply
concerned
for
his
land,
and
took
pity
upon
his
people,
\VS{19}and
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
answered
and
said
to
his
people:
\par }{\Q I
will
send
you
corn,
wine,
and
oil.
\par }{\QB You
will
be
satisfied.
\par }{\Q I
will
not
make
you
again
\par }{\QB an
object
of
scorn
among
the
nations,
\par }{\Q \VS{20}I
will
remove
far
from
you
the
northern
foe,
\par }{\QB and
I
will
drive
it
into
a
land
barren
and
desolate,
\par }{\Q its
front
into
the
eastern
sea,
\par }{\QB and
its
rear
to
the
western
sea.
\par }{\Q And
from
it
a
stench
will
arise.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q He
has
done
great
things!
\par }{\Q \VS{21}Fear
not,
land,
exult.
\par }{\QB Rejoice
for
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
has
done
great
things!
\par }{\Q \VS{22}Fear
not,
animals
of
the
field.
\par }{\QB For
the
pastures
of
the
wilderness
are
putting
forth
new
grass,
\par }{\Q for
the
trees
bear
their
fruit,
\par }{\QB fig
tree
and
vine
yield
full
harvest.
\par }{\Q \VS{23}Be
glad,
then,
children
of
Zion,
\par }{\QB and
rejoice
in
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
your
God,
\par }{\Q for
he
has
given
you
the
early
rain
in
just
measure,
\par }{\QB and
poured
down
upon
you
the
winter
rain,
\par }{\Q and
sent
the
latter
rain
as
before.
\par }{\Q \VS{24}The
threshing
floors
will
be
full
of
grain,
\par }{\QB and
the
vats
will
overflow
with
new
wine
and
oil.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{25}I
will
repay
you
for
the
years
\par }{\QB which
the
swarming
locust
has
eaten.
\par }{\Q The hopping,
the
destroying,
and
the
cutting
locusts,
\par }{\QB my
great
army
which
I
sent
among
you,
\par }{\QB and
my
people
will
never
again
be
put
to
shame.
\par }{\Q \VS{26}You
will
eat
your
food
and
be
satisfied,
\par }{\QB and
praise
the
name
of
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
your
God,
\par }{\Q who
has
dealt
so
wonderfully
by
you,
\par }{\Q \VS{27}and
you
will
know
that
I
am
in
the
midst
of
Israel,
\par }{\QB that
I
am
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
your
God
and
none
else,
\par }{\QB and
my
people
will
never
again
be
put
to
shame.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{28}Afterwards,
\par }{\QB I
will
pour
out
my
spirit
on
everyone.
\par }{\Q Your
sons
and
your
daughters
will
prophesy,
\par }{\QB your
old
men
will
dream
dreams.
\par }{\Q Your
young
men
will
see
visions,
\par }{\QB \VS{29}and
even
on
your
male
and
female
slaves
\par }{\Q in
those
days,
I
will
pour
out
my
spirit.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{30}And
I
will
show
signs
in
the
sky
and
on
earth:
\par }{\QB Blood
and
fire
and
pillars
of
smoke.
\par }{\Q \VS{31}The
sun
will
be
turned
into
darkness,
\par }{\QB and
the
moon
into
blood
\par }{\Q before
the
coming
of
the
great
and
terrible
day
of
the
{\ND{
Lord}}.
\par }{\PP \VS{32}But
whoever
will
call
upon
the
name
of
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
will
be
saved.
For
in
Mount
Zion
and
in
Jerusalem
there
will
be
those
who
escape,
even
as
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
has
said,
and
among
the
fugitives
those
whom
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
calls.

\par }\Chap{3}{\PP \VerseOne{1}For,
in
those
days
and
in
that
time,
when
I
bring
back
again
the
captivity
of
Judah
and
Jerusalem,
\VS{2}I
will
also
gather
all
the
nations
and
bring
them
down
into
the
Valley
of
Jehoshaphat,
and
there
I
will
enter
into
judgment
with
them
for
my
people
and
my
heritage
Israel,
whom
they
have
scattered
among
the
nations,
and
divided
my
land.
\par }{\Q \VS{3}They
have
cast
lots
for
my
people.
\par }{\Q They
have
traded
boys
\par }{\QB for
prostitutes,
\par }{\Q and
sold
girls
for
wine,
\par }{\QB and
drunk
it.
\par }{\PP \VS{4}What
are
you
to
me,
Tyre
and
Sidon
and
all
the
districts
of
Philistia?
Were
you repaying
any
deed
of
mine,
or
were
you
doing
something
for
me?
Quickly
will
I
return
your
deed
upon
your
heads.
\VS{5}You
who
have
taken
my
silver
and
my
gold,
and
you
have
brought
my
goodly
jewels
into
your
palaces,
\VS{6}you
have
sold
the
people
of
Judah
and
of
Jerusalem
to
the
Greeks,
so
that
you
might
remove
them
far
from
their
own
borders.
\VS{7}I
am
about
to
stir
them
up
from
the
place
to
which
you
have
sold
them,
and
I
will
turn
your
deeds
upon
your
own
head.
\VS{8}I
will
sell
your
sons
and
your
daughters
into
the
hands
of
the
people
of
Judah,
and
they
will
sell
them
to
the
Sabeans,
to
a
nation
far
off,
for
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
has
spoken.
\par }{\Q \VS{9}Proclaim
this
among
the
nations,
sanctify
war.
\par }{\Q Arouse
the
warriors,
\par }{\QB let
all
the
fighting
men
muster
and
go
up.
\par }{\Q \VS{10}Beat
your ploughshares
into
swords,
\par }{\QB and
your pruning-hooks
into
lances;
\par }{\Q let
the
weak
say,
I,
indeed,
am
strong.
\par }{\Q \VS{11}Bestir
yourselves
and
come,
\par }{\QB all
you
nations
round
about.
\par }{\Q Quickly
gather
yourselves
together,
\par }{\QB ask
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
to
bring
his
warriors.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{12}Let
the
nations
rouse
themselves
\par }{\QB and
come
up
to
the
Valley
of
Jehoshaphat,
\par }{\Q for
there
will
I
sit
to
judge
\par }{\QB all
the
surrounding
nations.
\par }{\Q \VS{13}Put
in
the
sickle,
\par }{\QB for
the
harvest
is
ripe;
\par }{\Q go
in,
tread,
\par }{\QB for
the
wine
press
is
full.
\par }{\Q The
vats
overflow,
\par }{\QB for
great
is
their
wickedness.
\par }{\Q \VS{14}Noisy
multitudes,
noisy
multitudes
\par }{\QB in
the
valley
of
decision.
\par }{\Q For
near
is
the
{\ND{
Lord}}’s
day
in
the
valley
of
decision!
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{15}Sun
and
moon
have
turned
dark,
\par }{\QB and
the
stars
withdrawn
their
shining.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{16}Whenever
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
roars
from
Zion
\par }{\QB and
utters
his
voice
from
Jerusalem,
\par }{\Q earth
and
sky
quake;
\par }{\Q but
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
is
a
refuge
to
his
people,
\par }{\QB and
a
fortress
to
the
people
of
Israel.
\par }{\Q \VS{17}And
you
will
know
that
I
am
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
your
God,
\par }{\QB I
who
dwells
in
Zion,
my
holy
mountain,
\par }{\Q and
Jerusalem
will
be
holy,
\par }{\QB and
strangers
will
not
pass
through
her
any
more.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{18}In
that
day,
\par }{\QB the
mountains
will
drop
sweet
wine,
\par }{\Q the
hills
will
flow
with
milk,
\par }{\QB all
the
channels
of
Judah
will
flow
with
water,
\par }{\Q a
fountain
will
spring
from
the
house
of
Judah,
\par }{\QB and
will
water
the
Valley
of
Shittim.
\par }{\Q \VS{19}Egypt
will
become
a
desolation,
\par }{\QB and
Edom
a
wilderness,
\par }{\Q because
of
the
violence
done
to
the
people
of
Judah,
\par }{\QB because
they
shed
innocent
blood
in
their
land,
\par }{\Q \VS{20}Judah
will
remain
inhabited
forever,
\par }{\QB and
Jerusalem
from
generation
to
generation.
\par }{\Q \VS{21}I
will
avenge
their
blood
which
I
have
not
yet
avenged.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q The
{\ND{
Lord}}
lives
in
Zion!
\par }