Yahweh Judges the Nations

1“ For behold, in those days and at that time,

when I turn back the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem,†

2I will gather all the nations,

and I will bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat,†

and I will enter into judgment with them there

over My people and My heritage Israel,

whom they have scattered among the nations—

and they have divided up My land.

3And for My people they have cast lots,

and they have given a boy for a prostitute,

and a girl they have sold for wine, that they may drink.

4And indeed, what are you⁺ to Me, O Tyre, and Sidon, and all the coasts of Philistia? A recompense are you⁺ rendering against Me, or are you⁺ retaliating against Me? Swiftly and speedily I will return your⁺ recompense upon your⁺ head, 5because you⁺ took My silver and My gold, and My precious treasures you⁺ have brought in into your⁺ temples!† 6And the sons of Judah and the sons of Jerusalem you⁺ sold to the sons of Javan,† that you might remove them far from their borders.

7Behold, I am rousing them from the place where there you⁺ have sold them, and I will return your⁺ recompense upon your⁺ head! 8And I will sell your⁺ sons and your⁺ daughters into the hand of the sons of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans, to a people far off!”

Indeed, YHWH has spoken.

9Call this out among the nations:

“Consecrate for war;

Rouse the mighty ones;

let draw near; let them come up—

all the men of war!

10Beat your⁺ plowshares into swords,

and your⁺ pruning hooks into spears;

let the weak say, ‘I am strong.’

11Hurry and come in, all nations from around,

and gather together there.

Bring down, O YHWH,

Your mighty ones.

12May they be roused and come up—

the nations to the Valley of Jehoshaphat.

For there I will sit to judge

all the nations from around.

13Send forth the sickle,

for the harvest is ripe.†

Come, go down,

for the winepress is full;

the wine vats overflow,

for great is their wickedness!

14Multitudes, multitudes

in the valley of decision.

For the day of YHWH is near

in the valley of decision.

15The sun and moon will grow dark,

and the stars will withdraw their brightness.

16And YHWH will roar from Zion,

and from Jerusalem He will give forth His voice,

and the heavens and the earth will quake,

and YHWH will be a refuge for His people

and a stronghold for the sons of Israel.

Blessings for God’s People

17And you⁺ will know that I am YHWH your⁺ God,

the One dwelling on Zion, the mountain of My holiness;

and Jerusalem will be holy,

and strangers will not pass through her anymore.

18And it will come to pass in that day that the mountains will drip new wine,

and the hills will flow with milk;

and all the channels of Judah will flow with water,

and a fountain will come forth from the house of YHWH

and will water the Valley of Shittim.†

19Egypt will be as a desolation

and Edom will be as a wilderness of desolation,

because of violence to the sons of Judah;

for in their land they have poured out innocent blood.

20And Judah will abide forever,

and Jerusalem for generation and generation.

21And I will clear their bloodguilt

that I have not cleared.†

And YHWH is dwelling in Zion!