\NormalFont\ShortTitle{JOEL}

{\MT Joel



\par }\ChapOne{1}{\SH The Prophet Joel
\par }
{\MM \VerseOne{1}This is what the
{\ND{Lord}} said to Joel, son of Pethuel.


\par }{\SH Judah Is Plagued with Locusts and Famine
\par }
{\Q \VS{2}Listen to this, you leaders!

\par }{\Q Open your ears, all inhabitants of this land!

\par }{\Q Nothing like this has ever happened in your lifetime

\par }{\Q or in your ancestors’ lifetime.


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

\par }{\Q Have your children tell their children.

\par }{\Q Have your grandchildren tell their children.


\par }{\Q \VS{4}What young locusts leave, mature locusts will eat.

\par }{\Q What mature locusts leave, adult locusts will eat.

\par }{\Q What adult locusts leave, grasshoppers will eat.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{5}Wake up and cry, you drunks!

\par }{\Q Cry loudly, you wine drinkers!

\par }{\Q New wine has been taken away from you.


\par }{\Q \VS{6}A strong nation attacked my land.

\par }{\Q It has too many soldiers to count.

\par }{\Q They have teeth like lions.

\par }{\Q They have fangs like grown lions.


\par }{\Q \VS{7}They destroyed my grapevines.

\par }{\Q They ruined my fig trees.

\par }{\Q They stripped off what they could eat,

\par }{\Q threw the rest away, and left the branches bare.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{8}Cry loudly like a young woman who is dressed in sackcloth,

\par }{\Q mourning for the man she was going to marry.


\par }{\Q \VS{9}Grain offerings and wine offerings

\par }{\Q are no longer brought to the
{\ND{Lord}}’s temple.

\par }{\Q The priests, the
{\ND{Lord}}’s servants, mourn.


\par }{\Q \VS{10}Israel’s fields are ruined, and the ground is dried up.

\par }{\Q The grain has been destroyed.

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

\par }{\Q The olive oil has run out.


\par }{\Q \VS{11}Be sad, you farmers!

\par }{\Q Cry loudly, you grape growers!

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

\par }{\Q The harvest is destroyed in the field.


\par }{\Q \VS{12}The grapevines are dried up.

\par }{\Q The fig trees are withered.

\par }{\Q The pomegranate, palm, and apricot trees,

\par }{\Q as well as all the trees in the orchards, have died.

\par }{\Q Yes, the joy of these people has died too.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{13}Put on your sackcloth and mourn, you priests.

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

\par }{\Q Spend the night in sackcloth, you servants of my God.

\par }{\Q Grain offerings and wine offerings

\par }{\Q are withheld from your God’s temple.


\par }{\Q \VS{14}Schedule a time to fast!

\par }{\Q Call for an assembly!

\par }{\Q Gather the leaders and everyone who lives in the land.

\par }{\Q Bring them to the temple of the
{\ND{Lord}} your God,

\par }{\Q and cry to the
{\ND{Lord}} for help.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{15}This will be a terrible day!

\par }{\Q The day of the
{\ND{Lord}} is near,

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


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{16}Food disappears right before our eyes.

\par }{\Q Happiness and rejoicing disappear from our God’s temple.


\par }{\Q \VS{17}Seeds shrivel up in their shells.

\par }{\Q Storehouses are destroyed.

\par }{\Q Barns are ruined.

\par }{\Q The grain has dried up.


\par }{\Q \VS{18}The animals groan.

\par }{\Q Herds of cattle wander around confused.

\par }{\Q There’s no pasture for them.

\par }{\Q Even flocks of sheep are suffering.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{19}O
{\ND{Lord}}, I cry to you for help!

\par }{\Q Fire has burned up the open pastures.

\par }{\Q Flames have burned up all the trees in the orchards.


\par }{\Q \VS{20}Even wild animals long for you.

\par }{\Q Streams run dry.

\par }{\Q Fire has burned up the open pastures.




\par }\Chap{2}{\SH The Day of the
{\ND{LORD}}
\par }
{\Q \VerseOne{1}Blow the ram’s horn in Zion.

\par }{\Q Sound the alarm on my holy mountain.

\par }{\Q Everyone who lives in the land should tremble,

\par }{\Q because the day of the
{\ND{Lord}} is coming.

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


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

\par }{\Q a day of clouds and overcast skies.

\par }{\Q A large and mighty army

\par }{\Q will spread over the mountains like the dawn.\FTNT{*}{{\FR 2:2 }{\FT{Or
}}{\FQA{“like darkness.”}}}

\par }{\Q Nothing like this has ever happened.

\par }{\Q Nothing like this will ever happen again.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{3}In front of this army a fire burns.

\par }{\Q Behind it flames are blazing.

\par }{\Q In front of it the land is like the garden of Eden.

\par }{\Q Behind it the land is like a barren desert.

\par }{\Q Nothing escapes it!


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{4}The soldiers look like horses.

\par }{\Q They run like war horses.


\par }{\Q \VS{5}As they leap on mountaintops,

\par }{\Q they sound like rattling chariots,

\par }{\Q like crackling fire burning up straw,

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


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{6}People are terrified in their presence.

\par }{\Q Every face turns pale.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{7}They run like warriors.

\par }{\Q They climb walls like soldiers.

\par }{\Q They march straight ahead.

\par }{\Q They do not leave their places.


\par }{\Q \VS{8}They do not crowd one another.

\par }{\Q They keep in their own lines.

\par }{\Q Even when they break through the defenses,

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


\par }{\Q \VS{9}They rush into the city.

\par }{\Q They run along the wall.

\par }{\Q They climb into houses.

\par }{\Q They enter through windows like thieves.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{10}The earth quakes in their presence,

\par }{\Q and the sky shakes.

\par }{\Q The sun and the moon turn dark,

\par }{\Q and the stars no longer shine.


\par }{\Q \VS{11}The
{\ND{Lord}} shouts out orders to his army.

\par }{\Q His forces are very large.

\par }{\Q The troops that carry out his commands are mighty.

\par }{\Q The day of the
{\ND{Lord}} is extremely terrifying.

\par }{\Q Who can endure it?


\par }{\SH The
{\ND{LORD}} Invites the People to Return to Him
\par }
{\Q \VS{12}“But even now,” declares the
{\ND{Lord}},

\par }{\Q “return to me with all your heart—

\par }{\Q with fasting, crying, and mourning.”


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{13}Tear your hearts, not your clothes.

\par }{\Q Return to the
{\ND{Lord}} your God.

\par }{\Q He is merciful and compassionate,

\par }{\Q patient, and always ready to forgive

\par }{\Q and to change his plans about disaster.


\par }{\Q \VS{14}Who knows?

\par }{\Q He may reconsider and change his plan

\par }{\Q and leave a blessing for you.

\par }{\Q Then you could give grain offerings and wine offerings

\par }{\Q to the
{\ND{Lord}} your God.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{15}Blow the ram’s horn in Zion.

\par }{\Q Schedule a time to fast.

\par }{\Q Call for an assembly.


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

\par }{\Q Prepare them for a holy meeting.

\par }{\Q Assemble the leaders.

\par }{\Q Gather the children, even the nursing infants.

\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q Grooms leave their rooms.

\par }{\Q Brides leave their chambers.


\par }{\Q \VS{17}The priests who serve the
{\ND{Lord}} cry

\par }{\Q between the altar and the entrance to the temple.

\par }{\Q They say,

\par }{\Q “Spare your people, O
{\ND{Lord}}.

\par }{\Q Don’t let the people who belong to you become a disgrace.

\par }{\Q Don’t let the nations ridicule them.

\par }{\Q Why should people ask, ‘Where is their God?’ ”


\par }{\SH The
{\ND{LORD}} Will Give Earthly Blessings to His People
\par }
{\Q \VS{18}Then the
{\ND{Lord}} became concerned about his land,

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


\par }{\Q \VS{19}The
{\ND{Lord}} said to his people,

\par }{\Q “I am going to send grain, new wine, and olive oil to you.

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

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


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{20}“I will keep the northern
{\ADD{⌞army⌟}} far from you,

\par }{\Q and I will force it into a dry and barren land.

\par }{\Q The soldiers in front will be forced into the eastern sea.

\par }{\Q The soldiers in back will be forced into the western sea.

\par }{\Q A foul odor will rise from the dead bodies.

\par }{\Q They will stink.”

\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q He has done great things!


\par }{\Q \VS{21}Land, do not be afraid.

\par }{\Q Be glad and rejoice.

\par }{\Q The
{\ND{Lord}} has done great things!


\par }{\Q \VS{22}Wild animals, do not be afraid.

\par }{\Q The pastures in the wilderness have turned green.

\par }{\Q The trees have produced their fruit.

\par }{\Q There are plenty of figs and grapes.


\par }{\Q \VS{23}People of Zion, be glad and find joy in the
{\ND{Lord}} your God.

\par }{\Q The
{\ND{Lord}} has given you the Teacher of Righteousness.\FTNT{†}{{\FR 2:23 }{\FT{Or
}}{\FQA{“The
{\ND{LORD}} has given you plenty of autumn rain.”}}}

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


\par }{\Q \VS{24}The threshing floors \FTNT{‡}{{\FR 2:24 }{\FT{A
}}{\FQ{threshing floor
}}{\FT{is an outdoor area where grain is separated from its husks.}}} will be filled with grain.

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


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{25}“Then I will repay you for the years

\par }{\Q that the mature locusts, the adult locusts,

\par }{\Q the grasshoppers, and the young locusts ate your crops.

\par }{\Q (They are the large army that I sent against you.)


\par }{\Q \VS{26}You will have plenty to eat, and you will be full.

\par }{\Q You will praise the name of the
{\ND{Lord}} your God,

\par }{\Q who has performed miracles for you.

\par }{\Q My people will never be ashamed again.


\par }{\Q \VS{27}You will know that I am in Israel.

\par }{\Q I am the
{\ND{Lord}} your God, and there is no other.

\par }{\Q My people will never be ashamed again.\FTNT{§}{{\FR 2:27 }{\FT{}}{\XT{Joel 2:28–32}}{\FT{ in English Bibles is Joel 3:1–5 in the Hebrew Bible.}}}


\par }{\SH The
{\ND{LORD}} Will Pour His Spirit on All People
\par }
{\Q \VS{28}“After this, I will pour my Spirit on everyone.

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

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

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


\par }{\Q \VS{29}In those days I will pour my Spirit on servants,

\par }{\Q on both men and women.


\par }{\Q \VS{30}I will work miracles in the sky and on the earth:

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


\par }{\Q \VS{31}The sun will become dark,

\par }{\Q and the moon will become as red as blood before the terrifying day of the
{\ND{Lord}} comes.”


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{32}Then whoever calls on the name of the
{\ND{Lord}} will be saved.

\par }{\Q Those who escape will be on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem.

\par }{\Q Among the survivors will be those whom the
{\ND{Lord}} calls,

\par }{\Q as the
{\ND{Lord}} has promised.




\par }\Chap{3}{\SH The
{\ND{LORD}} Will Rescue His People
\par }
{\Q \VerseOne{1}\FTNT{*}{{\FR 3:1 }{\FT{}}{\XT{Joel 3:1–21}}{\FT{ in English Bibles is Joel 4:1–21 in the Hebrew Bible.}}}“In those days and at that time,

\par }{\Q I will bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem.


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

\par }{\Q I will bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat.\FTNT{†}{{\FR 3:2 }{\FT{Or
}}{\FQA{“the valley where the
{\ND{LORD}} judges.”}}}

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

\par }{\Q They scattered the Israelites, the people who belong to me,

\par }{\Q among the nations.

\par }{\Q They divided my land.


\par }{\Q \VS{3}They threw dice for my people.

\par }{\Q They traded boys for prostitutes.

\par }{\Q They sold girls so that they could buy wine to drink.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{4}“Now what do you have against me, Tyre and Sidon

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

\par }{\Q Are you paying me back for something I have done?

\par }{\Q If you are paying me back,

\par }{\Q I will quickly pay you back for what you have done.


\par }{\Q \VS{5}You took my silver and my gold.

\par }{\Q You brought my finest treasures to your temples.


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

\par }{\Q That way you could send them far away from their land.


\par }{\Q \VS{7}I am going to make them leave the place where you sold them.

\par }{\Q I will pay you back for what you have done.


\par }{\Q \VS{8}I will sell your sons and daughters to the people of Judah.

\par }{\Q They will sell them to the people of Sheba,

\par }{\Q a nation that is far away.”

\par }{\Q The
{\ND{Lord}} has spoken.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{9}Announce this among the nations:

\par }{\Q Prepare yourselves for war.

\par }{\Q Wake up the warriors.

\par }{\Q Have all the warriors come near and attack.


\par }{\Q \VS{10}Hammer your plowblades into swords

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

\par }{\Q Weaklings should say that they are warriors.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{11}Hurry from every direction, and gather there, all you nations.

\par }{\Q O
{\ND{Lord}}, bring your soldiers.


\par }{\Q \VS{12}Wake up, you nations.

\par }{\Q Come to the valley of Jehoshaphat.

\par }{\Q There I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{13}Cut them down like grain.

\par }{\Q The harvest is ripe.

\par }{\Q Stomp on them as you would stomp on grapes.

\par }{\Q The winepress is full.

\par }{\Q The vats overflow.

\par }{\Q The nations are very wicked.


\par }{\Q \VS{14}There are many, many people in the valley of decision.

\par }{\Q The day of the
{\ND{Lord}} is near in the valley of decision.


\par }{\Q \VS{15}The sun and the moon will turn dark.

\par }{\Q The stars will no longer shine.


\par }{\Q \VS{16}The
{\ND{Lord}} will roar from Zion,

\par }{\Q and his voice will thunder from Jerusalem.

\par }{\Q The sky and the earth will shake.

\par }{\Q The
{\ND{Lord}} will be a refuge for his people.

\par }{\Q He will be a stronghold for the people of Israel.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{17}“You will know that I am the
{\ND{Lord}} your God.

\par }{\Q I live on my holy mountain, Zion.

\par }{\Q Jerusalem will be holy.

\par }{\Q Foreigners will never invade it again.


\par }{\Q \VS{18}On that day new wine will cover the mountains.

\par }{\Q Milk will flow on the hills.

\par }{\Q Water will flow in all the brooks of Judah.

\par }{\Q A spring will flow from the
{\ND{Lord}}’s temple.

\par }{\Q It will water the valley of Shittim.


\par }{\Q \VS{19}Egypt will become a wasteland.

\par }{\Q Edom will become a barren desert.

\par }{\Q This is because the nations were cruel to Judah.

\par }{\Q They murdered innocent people in their land.


\par }{\Q \VS{20}People will always live in Judah.

\par }{\Q People will live in Jerusalem from now on.


\par }{\Q \VS{21}I will punish those who murder.”

\par }{\Q The
{\ND{Lord}} lives in Zion!

\par }