The LORD Judges the Nations

1“Yes, in those days and at that time,

when I restore Judah (praised) and Jerusalem (city of peace) from captivity (restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem),a

2I will gather all the nations

and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat (the LORD judges).b

There I will enter into judgment against them

concerning My people, My inheritance, Israel (he wrestles with God),

whom they have scattered among the nations

as they divided up My land.

3They cast lots for My people;

they bartered a boy for a prostitute

and sold a girl for wine to drink.

4Now what do you⁺ have against Me, O Tyre (a rock), Sidon (hunting), and all the regions (circuit) of Philistia (land of sojourners)? Are you⁺ rendering against Me a recompense? If you⁺ retaliate against Me, I will swiftly and speedily return your⁺ recompense upon your⁺ heads. 5For you⁺ took My silver and gold and carried off My finest treasures to your⁺ temples (palaces).c 6You⁺ sold the people of Judah (praised) and Jerusalem (city of peace) to the Greeks (to the peoples of Javan),d to send them far from their homeland.

7Behold, I will rouse them from the places to which you⁺ sold them; I will return your⁺ recompense upon your⁺ heads. 8I will sell your⁺ sons and daughters into the hands of the people of Judah (praised), and they will sell them to the Sabeans (drunkards)—to a distant nation.”

Indeed, the LORD {YHWH} has spoken.

9Proclaim this among the nations:

“Prepare for war;

rouse the mighty men;

let all the men of war

advance and attack!

10Beat your⁺ plowshares into swords

and your⁺ pruning hooks into spears.

Let the weak say, ‘I am strong!’

11Come quickly, all you surrounding nations,

and gather yourselves.

Bring down Your mighty ones,

O LORD {YHWH}.

12Let the nations be roused

and advance to the Valley of Jehoshaphat (YHWH has judged),

for there I will sit down

to judge all the nations on every side.

13Swing the sickle,

for the harvest is ripe [the harvest has come].e

Come, trample the grapes,

for the winepress is full;

the wine vats overflow

because their wickedness is great.

14Multitudes, multitudes

in the valley of decision!

For the Day of the LORD {Yowm YHWH} is near

in the valley of decision.

15The sun and moon will grow dark,

and the stars will no longer shine.

16The LORD {YHWH} will roar from Zion

and raise His voice from Jerusalem (city of peace);

heaven and earth will tremble.

But the LORD will be a refuge for His people,

a stronghold for the people of Israel (he wrestles with God).

Blessings for God’s People

17Then you⁺ will know that I am the LORD your⁺ God {YHWH Eloheikem},

who dwells in Zion, My holy mountain.

Jerusalem (city of peace) will be holy,

never again to be overrun by foreigners.

18And in that day the mountains will drip with sweet wine,

and the hills will flow with milk.

All the streams of Judah (praised) will run with water,

and a spring will flow from the house of the LORD {YHWH}

to water the Valley of Acacias (Valley of Shittim).f

19Egypt (land of bondage) will become desolate,

and Edom (red) a desert wasteland,

because of the violence done to the people of Judah (praised),

in whose land they shed innocent blood.

20But Judah (praised) will be inhabited forever,

and Jerusalem (city of peace) from generation to generation.

21For I will avenge their blood,

which I have not yet avenged.g”

For the LORD {YHWH} dwells in Zion.