3
The LORD Judges the Nations
1 “Yes, in those days and at that time,
when I restore Judah and Jerusalem from captivity,* 3:1 Or restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem
2 I will gather all the nations
and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat.† 3:2 Jehoshaphat means the LORD judges; also in verse 12.
There I will enter into judgment against them
concerning My people, My inheritance, Israel,
whom they have scattered among the nations
as they divided up My land.
3 They cast lots for My people;
they bartered a boy for a prostitute
and sold a girl for wine to drink.
4 Now what do you have against Me, O Tyre, Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia? Are you rendering against Me a recompense? If you retaliate against Me, I will swiftly and speedily return your recompense upon your heads. 5 For you took My silver and gold and carried off My finest treasures to your temples.‡ 3:5 Or palaces 6 You sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks,§ 3:6 Or to the peoples of Javan to send them far from their homeland.
7 Behold, I will rouse them from the places to which you sold them; I will return your recompense upon your heads. 8 I will sell your sons and daughters into the hands of the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans-to a distant nation.”
Indeed, the LORD has spoken.
9 Proclaim this among the nations:
“Prepare for war;
rouse the mighty men;
let all the men of war
advance and attack!
10 Beat your plowshares into swords
and your pruning hooks into spears.
Let the weak say, ‘I am strong!’
11 Come quickly, all you surrounding nations,
and gather yourselves.
Bring down Your mighty ones,
O LORD.
12 Let the nations be roused
and advance to the Valley of Jehoshaphat,
for there I will sit down
to judge all the nations on every side.
13 Swing the sickle,
for the harvest is ripe.* 3:13 LXX the harvest has come; see also Mark 4:29.
Come, trample the grapes,
for the winepress is full;
the wine vats overflow
because their wickedness is great.
14 Multitudes, multitudes
in the valley of decision!
For the Day of the LORD is near
in the valley of decision.
15 The sun and moon will grow dark,
and the stars will no longer shine.
16 The LORD will roar from Zion
and raise His voice from Jerusalem;
heaven and earth will tremble.
But the LORD will be a refuge for His people,
a stronghold for the people of Israel.
Blessings for God’s People
17 Then you will know that I am the LORD your God,
who dwells in Zion, My holy mountain.
Jerusalem will be holy,
never again to be overrun by foreigners.
18 And in that day the mountains will drip with sweet wine,
and the hills will flow with milk.
All the streams of Judah will run with water,
and a spring will flow from the house of the LORD
to water the Valley of Acacias.† 3:18 Or Valley of Shittim
19 Egypt will become desolate,
and Edom a desert wasteland,
because of the violence done to the people of Judah,
in whose land they shed innocent blood.
20 But Judah will be inhabited forever,
and Jerusalem from generation to generation.
21 For I will avenge their blood,
which I have not yet avenged.‡ 3:21 Or For I will pardon their bloodguilt, which I have not yet pardoned.”
For the LORD dwells in Zion.
*3:1 3:1 Or restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem
†3:2 3:2 Jehoshaphat means the LORD judges; also in verse 12.
‡3:5 3:5 Or palaces
§3:6 3:6 Or to the peoples of Javan
*3:13 3:13 LXX the harvest has come; see also Mark 4:29.
†3:18 3:18 Or Valley of Shittim
‡3:21 3:21 Or For I will pardon their bloodguilt, which I have not yet pardoned.