\NormalFont\ShortTitle{Joel}

{\MT Joel


\par }\ChapOne{1}{\PP \VerseOne{1}This is the word of Yahweh that came to Joel son of Pethuel.


\par }{\Q \VS{2}Hear this, you elders,

\par }{\Q and listen, all you inhabitants of the land.

\par }{\Q Has anything like this happened in your days

\par }{\Q or in the days of your ancestors?


\par }{\Q \VS{3}Tell your children about it,

\par }{\Q and let your children tell their children,

\par }{\Q and their children the next generation.


\par }{\Q \VS{4}What the swarming locust has left the great locust has eaten;

\par }{\Q what the great locust has left the grasshopper has eaten;

\par }{\Q and what the grasshopper has left the caterpillar has eaten.


\par }{\Q \VS{5}Wake up, you drunkards, and weep!

\par }{\Q Wail, all you drinkers of wine,

\par }{\Q because the sweet wine has been cut off from you.


\par }{\Q \VS{6}For a nation has come up upon my land,

\par }{\Q strong and without number.

\par }{\Q His teeth are the teeth of a lion,

\par }{\Q and he has the teeth of a lioness.


\par }{\Q \VS{7}He has made my vineyard into a desolate place

\par }{\Q and has stripped my fig tree bare.

\par }{\Q He has stripped its bark and thrown it away;

\par }{\Q the branches are bare white.


\par }{\Q \VS{8}Mourn like a virgin dressed in sackcloth for the death of her young husband.


\par }{\Q \VS{9}The grain offering and the drink offering have been cut off from Yahweh's house.

\par }{\Q The priests, Yahweh's servants, mourn.


\par }{\Q \VS{10}The fields are ruined,

\par }{\Q the ground is mourning because the grain has been destroyed.

\par }{\Q The new wine has dried up,

\par }{\Q the oil fails.


\par }{\Q \VS{11}Be ashamed, you farmers,

\par }{\Q and wail, you vine growers,

\par }{\Q for the wheat and the barley.

\par }{\Q For the harvest of the fields has perished.


\par }{\Q \VS{12}The vines have withered and the fig trees have dried up,

\par }{\Q the pomegranate trees, also the palm trees, and the apple trees—

\par }{\Q all the trees of the field have withered.

\par }{\Q For joy has withered away from the descendants of mankind.


\par }{\Q \VS{13}Put on sackcloth and mourn, you priests!

\par }{\Q Wail, you servants of the altar.

\par }{\Q Come, lie all night in sackcloth, you servants of my God.

\par }{\Q For the grain offering and the drink offering have been withheld from the house of your God.


\par }{\Q \VS{14}Call for a holy fast,

\par }{\Q and call a holy assembly.

\par }{\Q Gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land

\par }{\Q to the house of Yahweh your God,

\par }{\Q and cry to Yahweh.


\par }{\Q \VS{15}Alas for the day!

\par }{\Q For the day of Yahweh is almost here.

\par }{\Q With it will come destruction from the Almighty.


\par }{\Q \VS{16}Has not food been cut off from before our eyes,

\par }{\Q and joy and gladness from the house of our God?


\par }{\Q \VS{17}The seeds rot under their clods,

\par }{\Q the granaries are desolate,

\par }{\Q and the barns have been broken down,

\par }{\Q for the grain has withered.


\par }{\Q \VS{18}How the animals groan!

\par }{\Q The herds of cattle are suffering

\par }{\Q because they have no pasture.

\par }{\Q Also, the flocks of sheep suffer.


\par }{\Q \VS{19}Yahweh, I cry to you.

\par }{\Q For fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness,

\par }{\Q and flames have burned all the trees of the fields.


\par }{\Q \VS{20}Even the animals of the fields pant for you,

\par }{\Q for the water brooks have dried up,

\par }{\Q and fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness.



\par }\Chap{2}{\MM \par }
{\Q \VerseOne{1}Blow the trumpet in Zion,

\par }{\Q and sound an alarm on my holy mountain!

\par }{\Q Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble in fear,

\par }{\Q for the day of Yahweh is coming;

\par }{\Q indeed, it is near.


\par }{\Q \VS{2}It is a day of darkness and gloom,

\par }{\Q a day of clouds and thick darkness.

\par }{\Q Like the dawn that spreads on the mountains,

\par }{\Q a large and mighty army is approaching.

\par }{\Q There has never been an army like it,

\par }{\Q and there never will be again,

\par }{\Q even after many generations.


\par }{\Q \VS{3}A fire is consuming everything in front of it,

\par }{\Q and behind it a flame is burning.

\par }{\Q The land is like the garden of Eden in front of it,

\par }{\Q but behind it there is a ruined wilderness.

\par }{\Q Indeed, nothing will escape from it.


\par }{\Q \VS{4}The army's appearance is like horses,

\par }{\Q and they run like horsemen.


\par }{\Q \VS{5}They jump with a noise like that of chariots on the tops of the mountains,

\par }{\Q like the noise of fiery flames that devour the stubble,

\par }{\Q like a mighty army ready for battle.


\par }{\Q \VS{6}At their presence people are in anguish

\par }{\Q and all their faces become pale.


\par }{\Q \VS{7}They run like mighty warriors;

\par }{\Q they climb the walls like soldiers;

\par }{\Q they march, every one in step,

\par }{\Q and do not break their ranks.


\par }{\Q \VS{8}Neither does one thrust another aside;

\par }{\Q they march, each in his path;

\par }{\Q they break through the defenses

\par }{\Q and do not fall out of line.


\par }{\Q \VS{9}They rush on the city,

\par }{\Q they run on the wall,

\par }{\Q they climb in the houses,

\par }{\Q and they go through the windows like thieves.


\par }{\Q \VS{10}The earth shakes in front of them,

\par }{\Q the heavens tremble,

\par }{\Q the sun and the moon are darkened,

\par }{\Q and the stars stop shining.


\par }{\Q \VS{11}Yahweh raises his voice in front of his army,

\par }{\Q for his warriors are very numerous;

\par }{\Q for they are strong, those who carry out his commands.

\par }{\Q For the day of Yahweh is great and very terrible.

\par }{\Q Who can survive it?


\par }{\Q \VS{12}“Yet even now,” says Yahweh,

\par }{\Q “Return to me with all your heart.

\par }{\Q Fast, weep, and mourn.”


\par }{\Q \VS{13}Tear your heart and not only your garments,

\par }{\Q and return to Yahweh your God.

\par }{\Q For he is gracious and merciful,

\par }{\Q slow to anger and abundant in covenant faithfulness,

\par }{\Q and he would like to turn from inflicting punishment.


\par }{\Q \VS{14}Who knows? Will he perhaps turn and have compassion,

\par }{\Q and leave a blessing behind him,

\par }{\Q a grain offering and a drink offering for Yahweh your God?


\par }{\Q \VS{15}Blow the trumpet in Zion,

\par }{\Q call for a holy fast,

\par }{\Q and call a holy assembly.


\par }{\Q \VS{16}Gather the people,

\par }{\Q call for the holy assembly.

\par }{\Q Assemble the elders,

\par }{\Q gather the children

\par }{\Q and the nursing infants.

\par }{\Q Let the bridegrooms come out of their rooms,

\par }{\Q and the brides out of their bridal chambers.


\par }{\Q \VS{17}Let the priests, the servants of Yahweh,

\par }{\Q weep between the porch and the altar.

\par }{\Q Let them say, “Spare your people, Yahweh,

\par }{\Q and do not make your inheritance into an object of scorn,

\par }{\Q that the nations mock them.

\par }{\Q Why should they say among the nations,

\par }{\Q 'Where is their God?'”


\par }{\Q \VS{18}Then Yahweh was zealous for his land

\par }{\Q and had pity on his people.


\par }{\Q \VS{19}Yahweh answered his people,

\par }{\Q “Look, I will send you grain, new wine, and oil.

\par }{\Q You will be satisfied with them,

\par }{\Q and I will no longer make you a disgrace among the nations.


\par }{\Q \VS{20}I will remove the northern attackers far from you,

\par }{\Q and will drive them into a dry and abandoned land.

\par }{\Q The front of their army will go into the eastern sea,

\par }{\Q and the rear into the western sea.

\par }{\Q Its stench will rise,

\par }{\Q and its bad smell will rise.”

\par }{\QB Indeed, he has done great things.


\par }{\Q \VS{21}Do not fear, land, be glad and rejoice,

\par }{\Q for Yahweh will do great things.


\par }{\Q \VS{22}Do not fear, beasts of the field,

\par }{\Q for the pastures of the wilderness will sprout,

\par }{\Q the trees will bear their fruit,

\par }{\Q and the fig trees and the vines will yield their full harvest.


\par }{\Q \VS{23}Be glad, people of Zion,

\par }{\Q and rejoice in Yahweh your God.

\par }{\Q For he will give you the autumn rain in due course

\par }{\Q and bring down showers for you,

\par }{\Q the autumn rain and the spring rain as before.


\par }{\Q \VS{24}The threshing floors will be full of wheat,

\par }{\Q and the vats will overflow with new wine and oil.


\par }{\PP \VS{25}“I will restore to you the years of crops that the swarming locust has eaten

\par }{\Q —the great locust, the devouring locust, and the destroying locust—

\par }{\Q my mighty army that I sent among you.


\par }{\Q \VS{26}You will eat plentifully and be full,

\par }{\Q and praise the name of Yahweh your God,

\par }{\Q who has done wonders among you,

\par }{\Q and I will never again bring shame on my people.


\par }{\Q \VS{27}You will know that I am among Israel,

\par }{\Q and that I am Yahweh your God,

\par }{\Q and there is none else,

\par }{\Q and I will never bring shame on my people.


\par }{\Q \VS{28}It will come about afterward that

\par }{\Q I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,

\par }{\Q and your sons and your daughters will prophesy.

\par }{\Q Your old men will dream dreams,

\par }{\Q your young men will see visions.


\par }{\Q \VS{29}Also on servants and female servants,

\par }{\Q in those days I will pour out my Spirit.


\par }{\Q \VS{30}I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth,

\par }{\Q blood, fire, and pillars of smoke.


\par }{\Q \VS{31}The sun will turn into darkness

\par }{\Q and the moon into blood,

\par }{\Q before the great and terrible day of Yahweh comes.


\par }{\Q \VS{32}It will be that everyone who calls on the name of Yahweh will be saved.

\par }{\Q For on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be those who escape,

\par }{\Q as Yahweh has said,

\par }{\Q and among the survivors,

\par }{\Q those whom Yahweh calls.



\par }\Chap{3}{\MM \par }
{\Q \VerseOne{1}Behold, in those days and at that time,

\par }{\Q when I return the exiles of Judah and Jerusalem,


\par }{\Q \VS{2}I will gather all the nations,

\par }{\Q and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat.

\par }{\Q I will judge them there,

\par }{\Q because of my people and my inheritance Israel,

\par }{\Q whom they scattered among the nations,

\par }{\Q and because they divided up my land.


\par }{\Q \VS{3}They cast lots for my people,

\par }{\Q traded a boy for a prostitute,

\par }{\Q and sold a girl for wine

\par }{\Q so they could drink.


\par }{\Q \VS{4}Now, why are you angry at me,

\par }{\Q Tyre, Sidon and all the regions of Philistia?

\par }{\Q Will you repay me?

\par }{\Q Even if you do repay me,

\par }{\Q I will immediately return your retribution on your own head.


\par }{\Q \VS{5}For you took my silver and my gold,

\par }{\Q and you brought my precious treasures into your temples.


\par }{\Q \VS{6}You sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks,

\par }{\Q in order to remove them far from their territory.


\par }{\Q \VS{7}Look, I am about to stir them up, out of the place where you sold them,

\par }{\Q and will return payment on your own head.


\par }{\Q \VS{8}I will sell your sons and your daughters,

\par }{\Q by the hand of the people of Judah.

\par }{\Q They will sell them to the Sabeans,

\par }{\Q to a nation far off,

\par }{\Q for Yahweh has spoken.”


\par }{\Q \VS{9}Proclaim this among the nations,

\par }{\Q “Prepare yourselves for war,

\par }{\Q rouse the mighty men,

\par }{\Q let them come near,

\par }{\Q let all the men of battle come up.


\par }{\Q \VS{10}Beat your plowshares into swords

\par }{\Q and your pruning knives into spears.

\par }{\Q Let the weak say,

\par }{\Q 'I am strong.'


\par }{\Q \VS{11}Hurry and come,

\par }{\Q all you nearby nations,

\par }{\Q gather yourselves together there.

\par }{\PP Yahweh, bring down your mighty warriors.


\par }{\Q \VS{12}Let the nations wake themselves up

\par }{\Q and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat.

\par }{\Q For there will I sit to judge

\par }{\Q all the surrounding nations.


\par }{\Q \VS{13}Put in the sickle,

\par }{\Q for the harvest is ripe.

\par }{\Q Come, crush the grapes,

\par }{\Q for the winepress is full.

\par }{\Q The vats overflow,

\par }{\Q for their wickedness is enormous.”


\par }{\Q \VS{14}There is a tumult, a tumult in the Valley of Judgment.

\par }{\Q For the day of Yahweh is near in the Valley of Judgment.


\par }{\Q \VS{15}The sun and the moon become dark,

\par }{\Q the stars keep back their brightness.


\par }{\Q \VS{16}Yahweh will roar from Zion,

\par }{\Q and raise his voice from Jerusalem.

\par }{\Q The heavens and earth will shake,

\par }{\Q but Yahweh will be a shelter for his people,

\par }{\Q and a fortress for the people of Israel.


\par }{\Q \VS{17}“So you will know that I am Yahweh your God

\par }{\Q who lives in Zion, my holy mountain.

\par }{\Q Then Jerusalem will be holy,

\par }{\Q and no army will march through her again.


\par }{\Q \VS{18}It will come about on that day

\par }{\Q that the mountains will drip with sweet wine,

\par }{\Q the hills will flow with milk,

\par }{\Q all the brooks of Judah will flow with water,

\par }{\Q and a fountain will come from the house of Yahweh

\par }{\Q and water the Valley of Shittim.


\par }{\Q \VS{19}Egypt will become an abandoned devastation,

\par }{\Q and Edom will become an abandoned wilderness,

\par }{\Q because of the violence done to the people of Judah,

\par }{\Q because they shed innocent blood in their land.


\par }{\Q \VS{20}But Judah will be inhabited forever,

\par }{\Q and Jerusalem will be inhabited from generation to generation.


\par }{\Q \VS{21}I will avenge their blood that I have not yet avenged,

\par }{\Q for Yahweh lives in Zion.”


\par }