\NormalFont\ShortTitle{JOEL}
{\MTB This book is the account of Joel foretelling about many nations conquering the Israeli people and about God restoring them. We call this book
\par }{\MT Joel

\par }\ChapOne{1}{\PP \VerseOne{1}{\ADD{
I
am}}
Joel,
the
son
of
Pethuel.
{\ADD{
This
is}}
a
message
that
Yahweh
gave
to
me.
\par }{\SH The
attack
by
locusts
\par }{\Q \VS{2}You
leaders
{\ADD{
of
Israel}},
and
everyone
else
who
lives
in
this
country,
listen
{\ADD{
to
this
message}}!
\par }{\QB Nothing [RHQ]
like
this
has
ever
happened
during
the
time
that
we
have
lived
\par }{\QB or
the
time
when
our
ancestors
lived.
\par }{\Q \VS{3}Tell
your
children
about
it,
\par }{\QB and
tell
your
children
to
tell
it
to
their
children,
\par }{\QB and
tell
your
grandchildren
to
tell
it
to
their
children.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{4}{\ADD{
I
am
talking
about}}
the
locusts
that
have
eaten
our
crops.
\par }{\QB The
first
swarm
of
locusts
came
and
cut
{\ADD{
many
of
the
leaves
of
the
crops}};
\par }{\Q then
another
swarm
came
and
ate
{\ADD{
the
rest
of
the
leaves}},
\par }{\QB then
another
swarm
came hopping
along,
\par }{\Q and
finally
another
swarm
came
\par }{\QB and
they
destroyed
{\ADD{
everything
else}}.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{5}You
people
who
are
drunk,
wake
up!
\par }{\QB Wake
up
and
wail
loudly,
\par }{\Q because
all
the
grapes
are
ruined,
\par }{\QB and
so
there
will
be
no
new
wine [MTY]!
\par }{\Q \VS{6}{\ADD{
Huge
swarms
of}}
locusts
have
entered
our
country.
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
They
are
like}} [MET]
a
powerful
army
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
that
has
very
many
soldiers}},
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
with
the
result
that}}
no
one
can
count
them.
\par }{\Q The
locusts
have
teeth
that
are
{\ADD{
as
sharp
as}}
the
teeth
of
lions [DOU]!
\par }{\Q \VS{7}They
have
destroyed
our grapevines
and
our
fig
trees
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
by}}
stripping
off
{\ADD{
and
eating
all}}
the
bark,
\par }{\QB with
the
result
that
the
branches
are
white
{\ADD{
and ◄bare/have
no
leaves
on
them►}}.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{8}Cry
like [SIM]
a
young
woman
cries
\par }{\QB when
the
young
man
to
whom
she
was ◄engaged/promised
to
marry►
has
died.
\par }{\Q \VS{9}There
is
no
grain
or
wine
for
us
to
offer
{\ADD{
as
sacrifices}}
at
the
temple,
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
so}}
the
priests
who
serve
Yahweh
are
mourning/weeping.
\par }{\Q \VS{10}{\ADD{
The
crops
in}}
the
fields
have
been
ruined;
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
it
is
as
though}} [PRS]
the
ground
is
mourning.
\par }{\Q The
grain
has
been
destroyed,
\par }{\QB there
are
no
{\ADD{
grapes
to
make}}
wine,
\par }{\QB and
there
is
no
{\ADD{
more
olive
}}
oil.
\par }{\Q \VS{11}You
farmers,
grieve!
\par }{\QB You
who
take
care
of grapevines,
wail,
\par }{\Q because
the
grain
has
been
destroyed;
\par }{\QB there
is
no
wheat
or
barley
growing.
\par }{\Q \VS{12}The grapevines
and
the
fig
trees
have
withered,
\par }{\QB and
the
pomegranate
{\ADD{
trees}}
and
palm
{\ADD{
trees}}
and apricot
{\ADD{
trees}}
have
also
dried
up.
\par }{\Q The
people
are
no
longer
joyful.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{13}You
priests,
put
on
{\ADD{
rough}}
sack
clothes
and
wail.
\par }{\QB You
who
serve
God
{\ADD{
by
offering
sacrifices}}
on
the
altar,
\par }{\Q wear
those
rough
sack
clothes
all
night
{\ADD{
to
show
that
you
are
mourning}},
\par }{\QB because
there
is
no
grain
or
wine
to
be
offered
at
the
temple
of
your
God.
\par }{\Q \VS{14}Tell
the
people
that
they
should ◄fast/abstain
from
eating
food►.
\par }{\Q Tell
the
leaders
and
the
other
people
to
gather
at
the
temple
\par }{\QB and
to
cry
{\ADD{
out}}
to
Yahweh
{\ADD{
there}}.
\par }{\Q \VS{15}Terrible
things
are happening
to
us!
\par }{\QB It
will
soon
be
the
time
when
Yahweh,
{\ADD{
who
is}}
the
Almighty
God,
{\ADD{
will
really
punish
us}},
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
when
he}}
will
cause
us
to
experience
more
disasters.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{16}Our
crops
are
already
gone,
\par }{\QB and
no
{\ADD{
one
is}}
rejoicing
at
all [DOU]
at
the
temple
of
our
God.
\par }{\Q \VS{17}{\ADD{
When
we
plant}}
seeds,
{\ADD{
they
do
not
grow}};
\par }{\Q they
dry
up
in
the
ground,
\par }{\QB so
there
are
no
crops
to
harvest.
\par }{\Q Our
barns/storehouses
are
empty;
\par }{\QB there
is
no
grain
{\ADD{
to
store
in
them}}.
\par }{\Q \VS{18}Our
cattle
groan,
searching
for
a
pasture
with
some
grass
to
eat,
\par }{\QB and
the
sheep bleat
because
they
are
suffering.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{19}Yahweh,
I
cry
{\ADD{
out}}
to
you,
\par }{\QB because
our
pastures
and
our
forests
have
dried
up
in
the
hot
sunshine [MET].
\par }{\Q \VS{20}{\ADD{
It
is
as
though}}
even
the
wild
animals
cry
{\ADD{
out}}
to
you
\par }{\QB because
all
the
streams
have
dried
up.
\par }{\Q The
rivers
and
streams
are
all
dry,
\par }{\QB and
the
grass
in
the
pastures
is
all
parched.

\par }\Chap{2}{\SH A warning about the locusts
\par }{\Q \VerseOne{1}Blow
trumpets
on
Zion
{\ADD{
Hill}},
\par }{\QB God’s
sacred
hill
{\ADD{
in
Jerusalem}}!
\par }{\Q Tell
the
people
of
Judah
that
they
should
tremble,
\par }{\QB because
it
will
soon
be
the
time
for
Yahweh
{\ADD{
to
punish
us
further}}.
\par }{\Q \VS{2}{\ADD{
That
will
be
a
very}}
dark
and
gloomy
day;
\par }{\QB there
will
be
{\ADD{
black}}
clouds
and
it
will
be
very
dark.
\par }{\Q A
huge
{\ADD{
swarm
of
locusts}}
has
covered
the
mountains
like [SIM]
a
black
{\ADD{
cloud}}.
\par }{\Q Nothing
like
this
has
ever
happened
before,
\par }{\QB and
nothing
like
this
will
ever
{\ADD{
happen}}
again.
\par }{\Q \VS{3}{\ADD{
It
is
as
though
the
locusts
bring}}
flames
of
fire
\par }{\QB from
which
no
one
can
escape.
\par }{\Q In
front
of
them,
the
land
was
{\ADD{
beautiful}}
like [SIM]
the
garden
of
Eden,
\par }{\QB but
behind
them
{\ADD{
the
land
is
like}}
a
desert
\par }{\QB and
nothing
survives.
\par }{\Q \VS{4}{\ADD{
The
locusts}}
resemble
horses,
\par }{\QB and
they
run
like [SIM]
war
horses.
\par }{\Q \VS{5}Leaping
over
the
mountaintops,
\par }{\QB they
make
a
noise
like
rumbling
chariots,
\par }{\Q like [SIM]
a
mighty
army
that
is
preparing
for
a
battle,
\par }{\QB or
like [SIM]
the
roar
of
a
fire
that
burns
up
stubble
{\ADD{
in
a
field}}.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{6}When
people
see
them
coming,
\par }{\QB they
become
very
pale
and
frightened.
\par }{\Q \VS{7}{\ADD{
The
locusts}}
climb
over
walls
like
soldiers
do;
\par }{\QB they
march
along
in
columns
\par }{\Q and
never
turn
aside
{\ADD{
from
their
columns}}.
\par }{\Q \VS{8}They
rush
straight
ahead
\par }{\QB without
pushing
each
other.
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
Even
though
people
throw}}
spears
and javelins
at
them,
\par }{\QB that
will
not
cause
them
to
stop.
\par }{\Q \VS{9}They
swarm
over
the
city
walls
and
enter
our
houses;
\par }{\QB they
enter
through
our
windows
like [SIM]
thieves
do.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{10}{\ADD{
It
is
as
though}}
they
cause
the
earth
to
shake
and
the
sky
to
tremble.
\par }{\Q The
sun
and
the
moon
become
dark
\par }{\Q and
the
stars
do
not
shine
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
because
there
are
so
many
locusts
in
the
sky}}.
\par }{\Q \VS{11}Yahweh
leads
this
army
{\ADD{
of
countless
locusts}},
\par }{\QB and
they
obey
his
commands.
\par }{\Q This
time
when
he
is
judging
and
punishing
us
is
very
terrible,
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
with
the
result
that
it
seems
that}}
no
one [RHQ]
can
survive
it.
\par }{\SH Yahweh
calls
them
to
repent
\par }{\PP \VS{12}But
Yahweh
says,
\par }{\Q “In
spite
of
{\ADD{
these
disasters
that
you
have
experienced}},
\par }{\QB you
can
return
to
me
with
all
your
inner
beings.
\par }{\Q Weep,
and
mourn,
and ◄fast/abstain
from
eating
food►
{\ADD{
to
show
that
you
are
sorry
for
having
abandoned
me}}.
\par }{\Q \VS{13}Do
not
tear
your
clothes
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
to
show
that
you
are
sorry}};
\par }{\QB instead,
show [MET]
that
you
are
sorry.”
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q Yahweh
is
merciful
and
kind;
\par }{\QB he
does
not
quickly
become
angry;
\par }{\Q he
faithfully
loves
{\ADD{
people}}.
\par }{\Q He
does
not
quickly
become
angry;
\par }{\QB instead,
he
greatly
and
faithfully
loves
{\ADD{
you}},
\par }{\QB and
he
does
not
like
to
punish
you.
\par }{\Q \VS{14}No
one
knows [RHQ]
if
he
will
change
his
mind
{\ADD{
about
punishing
you}}
\par }{\QB and
if
instead
he
will
act mercifully
{\ADD{
toward
you}}.
\par }{\Q If
he
does
that,
he
will
bless
you
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
by
giving
you
plenty
of
grain
and
wine}}
\par }{\QB in
order
that
you
can
offer
{\ADD{
some
of
}}
those
things
as
sacrifices
to
him.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{15}Blow
the
trumpets
on
Zion
{\ADD{
Hill}}!
\par }{\QB Gather
the
people
together!
\par }{\Q Show
by
fasting
that
you
are
sorry
{\ADD{
for
the
sins
that
you
have
committed}}.
\par }{\Q \VS{16}Perform
the rituals
to
cause
yourselves
to
be
acceptable
to
Yahweh.
\par }{\Q Gather
everyone
together—
\par }{\QB the
old
people
and
the
children,
even
the
babies,
\par }{\Q and
summon
brides
and bridegrooms
from
their
rooms.
\par }{\Q \VS{17}Tell
the
priests
who
serve
Yahweh
to
cry
between
the
altar
and
the
entrance
to
the
temple
\par }{\QB and
to
pray
{\ADD{
this}}:
\par }{\Q “Yahweh,
rescue/save
{\ADD{
us}}
your
people;
\par }{\QB do
not
allow
people
from
other
nations
to
despise
us;
\par }{\Q do
not
allow
them
to
ridicule
us
and
say,
\par }{\QB ‘Why
has [RHQ]
their
God
{\ADD{
abandoned
them}}?’ ”
\par }{\SH Yahweh
promised
to
prosper
them
again
\par }{\Q \VS{18}But
Yahweh
{\ADD{
showed
that
he}}
was
concerned
about
his
people
\par }{\QB and
that
he
would
act mercifully
toward
them.
\par }{\PP \VS{19}When
the
people
prayed,
\par }{\Q Yahweh
answered
and
said,
\par }{\Q “I
will
give
you
{\ADD{
plenty
of}}
grain
and
wine
and
{\ADD{
olive}}
oil,
\par }{\QB and
you
will
be
satisfied.
\par }{\Q And
I
will
no
longer
allow
other
nations
to
insult
you.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{20}Another
army
{\ADD{
of
locusts
will
come}}
from
the
north
{\ADD{
to
attack
you}},
\par }{\QB but
I
will
force
them
to
continue
{\ADD{
past
Jerusalem}}
\par }{\QB into
the
desert.
\par }{\Q Some
will
go
into
the
Dead
Sea
in
the
east
\par }{\QB and
some
will
go
into
the
{\ADD{Mediterranean}}
Sea
in
the
west.
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
There}}
they
will
{\ADD{
all
die,
and
their
bodies}}
will
stink.”
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q Yahweh
does
great
things!
\par }{\QB \VS{21}He
does
wonderful
things!
\par }{\QB So
even
the
ground
should
rejoice!
\par }{\Q \VS{22}And
the
wild
animals
should
not
be
afraid,
\par }{\QB because
the
meadows
will
soon
become
green
again;
\par }{\Q the
fig
trees
and
{\ADD{
other}}
trees
will
be
full
of
fruit,
\par }{\QB and
the grapevines
will
be
covered
with
grapes.
\par }{\Q \VS{23}You
people
of
Jerusalem,
\par }{\QB rejoice
about
what
Yahweh,
your
God,
{\ADD{
will
be
doing
for
you}}.
\par }{\Q He
will
send
abundant
rain
at
the ◄right
time/time
when
it
is
needed►—
\par }{\QB ◄in
the
spring/early
in
the
year►
and ◄in
the
autumn/late
in
the
year►
\par }{\QB like
he
did
previously.
\par }{\Q \VS{24}The
ground
where
you
thresh
the
grain
will
be
covered
with
grain,
\par }{\QB and
your
vats
where
you
store
grape
juice
and
{\ADD{
olive}}
oil
will
be
full.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{25}{\ADD{
Yahweh
said,}} “I
will
repay
you
for
everything
that
was
destroyed
by
those
great
swarms
of
locusts
\par }{\QB that
I
sent
to
attack
you.
\par }{\Q \VS{26}You,
my
people,
will
eat
until
your
stomachs
are
full.
\par }{\Q Then
you
will
praise
me [MTY],
Yahweh,
your
God,
\par }{\QB for
the
wonderful
things
that
I
have
done
for
you.
\par }{\Q And
never
again
will
you
be
disgraced.
\par }{\Q \VS{27}When
that
happens,
you
will
know
that
I
am
{\ADD{
always}}
among
you,
\par }{\QB and
that
I
am
Yahweh,
your
God,
\par }{\QB and
that
there
is
no
other
{\ADD{
God}}.
\par }{\Q Never
again
will
you
be
disgraced.”
\par }{\SH Yahweh
promised
to
send
his
Spirit
\par }{\Q \VS{28}“Some
time
later,
I
will
give
my
Spirit
to
many [HYP]
people.
\par }{\QB Your
sons
and
daughters
will
proclaim
messages
that
come
directly
from
me.
\par }{\Q Your
old
men
will
have
dreams
{\ADD{
that
come
from
me}},
\par }{\QB and
your
young
men
will
have
visions
{\ADD{
that
come
from
me}}.
\par }{\Q \VS{29}At
that
time,
I
will
give
my
Spirit
even
to
servants,
both
men
and
women.
\par }{\Q \VS{30}I
will
do
unusual/amazing
things
on
the
earth
and
in
the
sky.
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
On
the
earth}} [CHI],
there
will
be
much
blood
{\ADD{
shed}}
\par }{\QB and
{\ADD{
there
will
be
very
large}}
fires
and
smoke
that resembles
huge
clouds.
\par }{\Q \VS{31}{\ADD{
In
the
sky,}}
the
sun
will
become
dark
and
the
moon
will
become
{\ADD{
as
red
as}} [MET]
blood.
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
Those
things
will
happen}}
before
that
great
and
terrible
day
when
{\ADD{
I}},
Yahweh,
appear.
\par }{\Q \VS{32}But
at
that
time
{\ADD{
I}}
will
save
everyone
who
worships
me.
\par }{\QB I
promise
that
some
people
in
Jerusalem [DOU]
will
escape
{\ADD{
those
disasters}};
\par }{\QB those
whom
I
have
chosen
will
survive.”

\par }\Chap{3}{\SH Yahweh will judge the nations
\par }{\PP \VerseOne{1}{\ADD{
Yahweh
says
this}}:
\par }{\Q “At
that
time [DOU],
I
will
enable
{\ADD{
the
people
of}}
Jerusalem
and
{\ADD{
other
places
in}}
Judah
to
prosper
again.
\par }{\Q \VS{2}{\ADD{
Then}}
in
the
Valley
of
Judgment
I
will
gather
together
{\ADD{
the
people
of}}
all
the
{\ADD{
other}}
nations;
\par }{\Q I
will
judge
{\ADD{
and
punish}}
them
\par }{\QB because
they
scattered
my Israeli
people
\par }{\QB and
forced
them
to
go
to
other
countries.
\par }{\Q They
divided
up
my
land
\par }{\Q \VS{3}and
they ◄threw
marked
stones/cast
lots►
to
determine
who
would
get
{\ADD{
each
of}}
my
people.
\par }{\Q Then
they
sold
{\ADD{
some
of}}
the Israeli
boys
and
girls
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
to
get
money
to
pay}}
for
prostitutes
and
wine
to
drink.
\par }{\PP \VS{4}You
{\ADD{
people
of}} [APO]
Tyre
and
Sidon
{\ADD{
cities}}
and
{\ADD{
you
people
of}}
the
Philistia
{\ADD{
region}},
I
certainly
have
not [RHQ]
done
anything
to
harm
you!
{\ADD{
So}}
if
you
are
trying
to
get
revenge
on
me,
I
will
very
quickly
get
revenge
on
you.
\VS{5}You
have
taken
the
silver
and
gold
and
{\ADD{
other
}}valuable
things
from
my
temple
and
put
them
in
your
temples.
\VS{6}{\ADD{
You
dragged
away}}
the
people
of
Jerusalem
and
{\ADD{
other
places
in}}
Judah,
and
you
took
them
far
away
and
sold
them
to
people
in
Greece.
\par }{\PP \VS{7}But
I
will
cause
my
people
to
want
to
return
from
the
places
to
which
you
sold
them,
and
I
will
do
to
you
what
you
did
to
them.
\VS{8}Then
I
will
cause
{\ADD{
some
of}}
your
sons
and
your
daughters
to
be
sold
to
the
people
of
Judah!
And
{\ADD{
some
of}}
them
will
be
sold
to
the Sabea people-group,
who
live
far
away.
{\ADD{
That
will
certainly
happen
because
I}},
Yahweh,
have
said
it.”
\par }{\SH God
will
judge
and
punish
the
nations
\par }{\Q \VS{9}Proclaim
to
the
{\ADD{
people
of
all}}
nations,
\par }{\QB “Prepare
for
a
war!
\par }{\Q Summon
your
soldiers,
\par }{\QB and
tell
them
to
stand
in
their
battle
positions.
\par }{\Q \VS{10}{\ADD{
Take}}
your
plows
and
make
swords
from
them,
\par }{\QB and
{\ADD{
take}}
your
pruning
knives
and
make
spears
from
them.
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
Even}}
the
weak
people
must
{\ADD{
also}}
be
like [MET]
{\ADD{
strong}}
soldiers.
\par }{\Q \VS{11}All
you
{\ADD{
people
from
the}}
nations
that
are
near
{\ADD{
Judah}}
\par }{\QB must
come
quickly
and
gather
{\ADD{
in
the
Valley
of
Judgment}}.”
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q But
Yahweh,
{\ADD{
when
that
happens}},
send
your
army
{\ADD{
of
angels
to
attack
them}}!
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{12}The
{\ADD{
people
in}}
the
nations
near
{\ADD{
Judah}}
must
get
ready
and
come
to
the
Valley
of
Judgment.
\par }{\QB There
Yahweh
will
sit
and
judge
{\ADD{
and
punish}}
them.
\par }{\Q \VS{13}{\ADD{
They
are
like}} [MET]
crops
that
are
ready
to
be
harvested;
\par }{\QB so
{\ADD{
strike
them
like}} [MET]
{\ADD{
a
farmer}}
swings
his
sickle
to
cut
the
grain.
\par }{\Q They
are
like [MET]
grapes
that
are
piled
high
in
the
pits
where
they
will
be
pressed;
\par }{\QB because
they
are
very
wicked,
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
punish
them
severely}} [MET]
now,
\par }{\QB like [MET]
{\ADD{
a
farmer}}
tramples
on
the
grapes
until
the
pits
are
full
of
juice.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{14}{\ADD{
There
will
be}}
huge
crowds
of
people
in
that
Valley
of
Judgment.
\par }{\QB It
will
soon
be
the
time
that
Yahweh
{\ADD{
will
punish
them}}.
\par }{\Q \VS{15}{\ADD{
At
that
time}}
there
will
be
no
light
from
the
sun
or
moon,
\par }{\QB and
the
stars
will
not
shine.
\par }{\Q \VS{16}From
Zion
{\ADD{
Hill}}
in
Jerusalem
Yahweh
will
shout,
\par }{\QB and
his
voice
will
be
like
thunder,
\par }{\QB and
his
voice
will
cause
the
sky
and
the
earth
to
shake.
\par }{\Q But
Yahweh
will
protect [MET]
his
people;
\par }{\QB he
will
be
like [MET]
a
strong
wall
behind
which
the
people
of
Israel
will
be
protected.
\par }{\SH God’s
blessings
for
his
people
\par }{\Q \VS{17}{\ADD{
Yahweh
says}}, “At
that
time,
you Israeli
people
will
know
that
I
am
Yahweh,
your
God.
\par }{\QB I
live
on
Zion,
my
sacred
hill.
\par }{\Q Jerusalem
will
be
a
sacred
{\ADD{
city}},
\par }{\QB and
{\ADD{
soldiers
from}}
other
countries
will
never
conquer
it
again.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{18}At
that
time,
there
will
be
vineyards
covering [MTY]
the
hills,
\par }{\QB and
{\ADD{
your
cattle
and
goats
on}}
those
hills
will
produce
plenty
of
milk.
\par }{\QB The
streams
in
Judah
will
never
dry
up.
\par }{\Q And
a
stream
will
flow
from
my
temple
into
the
Acacia
Valley
{\ADD{northeast
of
the
Dead
Sea}}.
\par }{\Q \VS{19}{\ADD{
The
armies
of}}
Egypt
and
Edom
attacked
the
people
of
Judah
\par }{\QB and
killed [MTY]
many
people
who
had
not
done
anything
that
was
wrong.
\par }{\Q So
{\ADD{
now}}
those
countries
will
become
deserts,
\par }{\Q \VS{20}but
there
will
always
be
people
living
in
Jerusalem
and
{\ADD{
in
other
places}}
in
Judea.
\par }{\Q \VS{21}{\ADD{
I}},
Yahweh,
live
on
Zion
{\ADD{
Hill
in
Jerusalem}},
\par }{\QB and
I
will
get
revenge
on
the
people
{\ADD{
of
Egypt
and
Edom}}
who
killed [MTY]
{\ADD{
many
of
my
people}}.”
\par }