1 “ For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem,

“In those days and at that time, I will return the riches of Judah and Jerusalem.

2 I will gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will execute judgment on them there for my people, and for my heritage, Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations. They have divided my land,

I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will judge them for what they did to My people Israel. They have sent My people out among the different nations, and have divided up My land.

3 a nd have cast lots for my people, and have given a boy for a prostitute, and sold a girl for wine, that they may drink.

They have drawn names to see who would get My people. They have traded a boy for a woman who sells the use of her body. And they have sold a girl for wine to drink.

4 “ Yes, and what are you to me, Tyre, and Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia? Will you repay me? And if you repay me, I will swiftly and speedily return your repayment on your own head.

What are you to Me, O Tyre, Sidon, and all the lands of Philistia? Are you paying Me back for something? If you are, I will be quick to pay you back!

5 B ecause you have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried my finest treasures into your temples,

You have taken My silver and My gold, and brought My riches to your places of worship.

6 a nd have sold the children of Judah and the children of Jerusalem to the sons of the Greeks, that you may remove them far from their border.

You have sold the sons of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks, sending them far from their land.

7 B ehold, I will stir them up out of the place where you have sold them, and will return your repayment on your own head;

So I am going to move them from the place where you have sold them, and do to you what you have done to them.

8 a nd I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hands of the children of Judah, and they will sell them to the men of Sheba, to a faraway nation, for Yahweh has spoken it.”

I will sell your sons and daughters to the sons of Judah. And they will sell them to the Sabeans, to a nation far away.” The Lord has spoken.

9 P roclaim this among the nations: “Prepare for war! Stir up the mighty men. Let all the warriors draw near. Let them come up.

Make this known among the nations: Get ready for war! Call your strong men! Gather all the soldiers and let them come up!

10 B eat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, ‘I am strong.’

Beat your plows into swords, and your vine hooks into spears. Let the weak say, “I am a powerful soldier.”

11 H urry and come, all you surrounding nations, and gather yourselves together.” Cause your mighty ones to come down there, Yahweh.

Hurry and come, all you nations on every side, and gather yourselves there. Bring down Your men of war, O Lord.

12 “ Let the nations arouse themselves, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat; for there will I sit to judge all the surrounding nations.

Let the nations get ready and come to the valley of Jehoshaphat. For there I will sit to judge all the nations on every side.

13 P ut in the sickle; for the harvest is ripe. Come, tread, for the wine press is full, the vats overflow, for their wickedness is great.”

Use the long, sharp knife, for the fruit is full-grown. Come and crush the grapes, for the crushing-place is full. They flow over, for their sins are many.

14 M ultitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of Yahweh is near, in the valley of decision.

Thousands and thousands are in the valley of God’s punishment. For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of God’s punishment.

15 T he sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining.

The sun and moon become dark, and the stars stop shining.

16 Y ahweh will roar from Zion, and thunder from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth will shake; but Yahweh will be a refuge to his people, and a stronghold to the children of Israel.

The Lord makes a loud noise from Zion. He lets His voice be heard from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth shake. But the Lord is a safe place for His people, a strong place to the sons of Israel.

17 “ So you will know that I am Yahweh, your God, dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain. Then Jerusalem will be holy, and no strangers will pass through her any more.

“Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, living in Zion My holy mountain. Jerusalem will be holy, and strangers will never pass through it again. God Brings Good to His People

18 I t will happen in that day, that the mountains will drop down sweet wine, the hills will flow with milk, all the brooks of Judah will flow with waters, and a fountain will flow out from Yahweh’s house, and will water the valley of Shittim.

“In that day the mountains will drip with sweet wine and the hills will flow with milk. All the rivers of Judah will flow with water. And a river will go out from the house of the Lord to water the valley of Shittim.

19 E gypt will be a desolation, and Edom will be a desolate wilderness, for the violence done to the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land.

Egypt will be destroyed and Edom will become a desert waste, because of the bad things done to the sons of Judah. They have killed people in the land of Judah who were not guilty of wrong-doing.

20 B ut Judah will be inhabited forever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation.

But people will live in Judah and Jerusalem forever.

21 I will cleanse their blood, that I have not cleansed: for Yahweh dwells in Zion.”

I will punish the ones who killed them, whom I have not yet punished, for the Lord lives in Zion.”