Bible verse by verse

[_LittleNipper]

Hosea 10:1-15

Israel is a strong vine that brings a wealth. As this wealth grew, so did pagan altars sprout; as his land prospered, so he decorated his pillars.

Israel's heart is divided; now they must cover their guilt. HE will break ruin their altars and destroy their pillars.

At this time they will say, “We have no king, because we do not fear the Lord; and what could a king possibly accomplish?”

Their words are empty, their covenant means nothing. As a result judgment springs up like poison ivy in the plowed field.

The inhabitants of Samaria fear because of the female calf of Beth Aven. Its people cry for it, and its pagan priests shriek, because it is removed.

It will be taken to Assyria as a tribute to King Jareb. Ephraim shall be shamed, and Israel shall be ashamed because of such idols.

As for Samaria, her king will die like a twig on the water.

The pagan places of Aven, the sin of Israel, will be destroyed. Thorn and thistle will grow on their altars. They will say to the mountains, "Hide us", and to the hills, "bury us."

Goodness Israel, you have sinned since the days of Gibeah. There they still do. Will not the war in Gibeah against evildoers catch them?

When I choose, I will punish them. The nations will be united against them when they are disciplined for their two transgressions.

Ephraim is a trained heifer that loves to thresh grain, but I harnessed her fair neck; I will make Ephraim pull a plow. Judah will plow; Jacob shall furrow for himself.

Sow to yourselves righteousness, reap mercy, break up your hard unseeded ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until He arrives and rains righteousness upon you.

You have plowed wickedness. You have reaped sin, and you have eaten the results of lies. Because you have trusted in your abilities and in the size of your armed forces,

therefore rebellion will arise among your people, and all your fortresses will be destroyed as Shalman destroyed Beth Arbel in battle; mothers were dashed to pieces upon their children.

So will it be done to you, Poor Bethel, because of your continuous wickedness. In the sunrise the king of Israel will be utterly cut off.

Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 `An empty vine [is] Israel, Fruit he maketh like to himself, According to the abundance of his fruit, He hath multiplied for the altars, According to the goodness of his land, They have made goodly standing-pillars.

2 Their heart hath been divided, now they are guilty, He doth break down their altars, He doth destroy their standing-pillars.

3 For now they say: We have no king, Because we have not feared Jehovah, And the king -- what doth he for us?

4 They have spoken words, To swear falsehood in making a covenant, And flourished as a poisonous herb hath judgment, on the furrows of a field.

5 For the calves of Beth-Aven fear do inhabitants of Samaria, Surely mourned on account of it hath its people, And its priests on account of it leap about, Because of its honour, for it hath removed from it,

6 Also it to Asshur is carried, a present to a warlike king, Shame doth Ephraim receive, And ashamed is Israel of its own counsel.

7 Cut off is Samaria! Its king [is] as a chip on the face of the waters.

8 And destroyed have been high places of Aven, the sin of Israel. Thorn and bramble go up on their altars, And they have said to hills, Cover us, And to heights, Fall upon us.

9 From the days of Gibeah thou hast sinned, O Israel, There they have stood, Not overtake them in Gibeah doth battle, Because of sons of perverseness.

10 When I desire, then I do bind them, And gathered against them have peoples, When they bind themselves to their two iniquities.

11 And Ephraim [is] a trained heifer -- loving to thresh, And I -- I have passed over on the goodness of its neck, I cause [one] to ride Ephraim, Plough doth Judah, harrow for him doth Jacob.

12 Sow for yourselves in righteousness, Reap according to loving-kindness, Till for yourselves tillage of knowledge, To seek Jehovah, Till he come and shew righteousness to you.

13 Ye have ploughed wickedness, Perversity ye have reaped, Ye have eaten the fruit of lying, For thou hast trusted in thy way, In the abundance of thy might.

14 And rise doth a tumult among thy people, And all thy fortresses are spoiled, As the spoiling of Shalman of Beth-Arbel, In a day of battle, Mother against sons dashed in pieces.

15 Thus hath Beth-El done to you, Because of the evil of your wickedness, In the dawn cut off utterly is a king of Israel!

[_LittleNipper]

Hosea 11:1-12

When Israel was a toddler, I loved him, and away from Egypt I called My son.

Even as I called them, so they left Me sacrificing to pagan Baals and burning incense to idols.

I taught Ephraim to walk, catching them up in My arms, but they never realized I healed them.

I drew them with cords of human kindness --- bands of love. I was to them as one with an easy yoke, and I bent down and tended to them.

He will return to Egypt, and Assyria will rule him, because they refused to return to Me.

The sword slashes in their cities, consumes their oracle-priests, and devours because of their own decisions.

My people are bent on backsliding from Me. Though they called to the Most High, none honor Him.

How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I make you like Admah and treat you like Zeboyim? My heart churns within Me -- My compassion stirred.

I will not execute the full extent of My anger; I will never again destroy Ephraim. For I'm God, and not human, the Holy One is among you, and I will not come in anger.

They will follow the Lord, who roars like a lion. When He roars, His children will arrive trembling from the west.

They will come upset like a bird out of Egypt and like a dove from the land of Assyria. And I will allow them to live in their houses, says the Lord.

Ephraim has surrounded Me with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit. But Judah still walks with God, and towards the Holy One is reliable.

Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 Because Israel [is] a youth, and I love him, Out of Egypt I have called for My Son.

2 They have called to them rightly, They have gone from before them, To lords they do sacrifice, And to graven images they make perfume.

3 And I have caused Ephraim to go on foot, Taking them by their arms, And they have not known that I strengthened them.

4 With cords of man I do draw them, With thick cords of love, And I am to them as a raiser up of a yoke on their jaws, And I incline unto him -- I feed [him].

5 He turneth not back unto the land of Egypt, And Asshur -- he [is] his king, For they have refused to return.

6 Grievous hath been the sword in his cities, And it hath ended his bars, and consumed -- from their own counsels.

7 And My people are hanging in suspense, about My returning, And unto the Most High they do call, Together they exalt not.

8 How do I give thee up, O Ephraim? Do I deliver thee up, O Israel? How do I make thee as Admah? Do I set thee as Zeboim? Turned in Me is My heart, kindled together have been My repentings.

9 I do not the fierceness of My anger, I turn not back to destroy Ephraim, For God I [am], and not a man. In thy midst the Holy One, and I enter not in enmity,

10 After Jehovah they go -- as a lion He roareth, When He doth roar, then tremble do the sons from the west.

11 They tremble as a sparrow out of Egypt, And as a dove out of the land of Asshur, And I have caused them to dwell in their own houses, An affirmation of Jehovah.

12 Compassed Me with feigning hath Ephraim, And with deceit the house of Israel. And Judah again is ruling with God, And with the Holy Ones [is] faithful!

[_LittleNipper]

Hosea 12:1-14

Ephraim is wasting its time; Israel “chases the wind” daily. The people spread more and more lies and steal more and more. They have made agreements with Assyria, and deliver their olive oil to Egypt.

The Lord says, “I have a complaint against Israel. Jacob must be punished for the evil he did.

While Jacob was in his mother’s womb, the beguiling of his brother Esau started. Jacob was a strong young man, and also when he fought with God.

Jacob wrestled with God’s angel and won. He cried out for a favor. At Bethel this occurred. There God spoke.

Yes, Yahweh is the God of the armies. His name is Yahweh.

Come back to God. Be loyal to him. Do what is right, and always trust in your God!

“Jacob is a tricky merchant. He even cheats his friend! Even his scales cheat.

Ephraim said, ‘I have wealth --- true riches! No one will discover my crimes or learn about my sins.’

“But I am still the Lord your God, as I was when you left Egypt. I will make you live in tents, as you do during the Festival of Shelters.

I spoke to the prophets and gave them visions galore. I provided the prophets many ways to illustrate my lessons to you.

But the people in Gilead have sinned. There are many terrible idols there. They offer sacrifices to bulls at Gilgal. They have altars galore. There are row after row of altars—like furrows in a plowed field.

Jacob ran away to the land of Aram. There Israel worked to secure one wife. He tended sheep to get another.

But the Lord used a prophet and brought Israel out of Egypt. He used a prophet and kept Israel safe.

But Ephraim made the Lord very angry -- killing many, so he will be punished for his crimes. His Lord will make him bear his shame.”

Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 Ephraim is enjoying wind, And is pursuing an east wind, All the day lying and spoiling he multiplieth, And a covenant with Asshur they make, And oil to Egypt is carried.

2 And a controversy hath Jehovah with Judah, To lay a charge on Jacob according to his ways, According to his doings He returneth to him.

3 In the womb he took his brother by the heel, And by his strength he was a prince with God,

4 Yea, he is a prince unto the Messenger, And he overcometh [by] weeping, And he maketh supplication to Him, At Bethel He doth find him, And there He doth speak with us,

5 Even Jehovah, God of the Hosts, Jehovah [is] His memorial.

6 And thou, through thy God, dost turn, Kindness and judgment keep thou, And wait on thy God continually.

7 Canaan! in his hand [are] balances of deceit! To oppress he hath loved.

8 And Ephraim saith: `Surely I have become rich, I have found wealth for myself, All my labours -- they find not against me iniquity that [is] sin.'

9 And I -- Jehovah thy God from the land of Egypt, Again do I turn thee back into tents, As in the days of the appointed time.

10 And I have spoken unto the prophets, And I have multiplied vision, And by the hand of the prophets I use similes.

11 Surely Gilead [is] iniquity, Only, vanity they have been, In Gilead bullocks they have sacrificed, Also their altars [are] as heaps, on the furrows of a field.

12 And Jacob doth flee to the country of Aram, And Israel doth serve for a wife, Yea, for a wife he hath kept watch.

13 And by a prophet hath Jehovah brought up Israel out of Egypt, And by a prophet it hath been watched.

14 Ephraim hath provoked most bitterly, And his blood on himself he leaveth, And his reproach turn back to him doth his Lord!

[_LittleNipper]

Hosea 13:1-16

When the tribe of Ephraim spoke, the people trembled, because they were important in Israel. But the people of Ephraim sinned by Baal worship -- sealing their fate.

Now they continue to sin by making silver idols, skillfully with human know how. “Sacrifice to these,” they cry, “and kiss the calf idols!”

Therefore, Ephraim will vanish like the morning fog, like dew with the morning sun, like chaff distributed by the wind, like smoke out an aperture
.
“I have been the Lord your God since I brought you away from Egypt. You must acknowledge Me alone, for there is no other savior.

I protected you in the wilderness --- a dry and thirsty land.

But when you ate and were content, you became proud and ignored Me.

So now I'll get you like a lion, like a leopard lerking by the path.

Like a bear whose cubs were removed, I'll rip out your heart. I will consume you like a hungry lioness and mangle you like some beast.

“You are about to be destroyed, Poor Israel— yes, by Me, your only helper.

So, where is your king now? Let him rescue you! Where are all the leaders of the land you demanded from me?

In My disgust I gave you kings, and in my fury I took them away.

“Ephraim’s guilt has been gathered, and his sin has been recorded for punishment. Pain has come to the people like that of childbirth, but they are like a child who resists birth.

“Should I ransom them from the grave? Should I redeem them from death? Yo death, bring on your torture! Yo grave, bring on your plagues! For I will not take pity on them.

Ephraim was the most fruitful of all his brothers, but the east wind—blows from the Lord—will arise from the desert. All their springs will run dry, their wells will dry up. Every precious thing they hold will be plundered and taken away.

The people of Samaria must bear the consequences of their guilt because they rebelled against God. They will be killed by an invasion, their babies dashed to death against the ground, their pregnant women split open by swords.”

Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 When Ephraim speaketh tremblingly, He hath been lifted up in Israel, When he becometh guilty in Baal he dieth.

2 And now do they add to sin, And make to them a molten image of their silver, By their own understanding -- idols, A work of artizans -- all of it, Of them they say, who [are] sacrificers among men, `The calves let them kiss.'

3 Therefore they are as a cloud of the morning, And as dew, rising early, going away, As chaff tossed about out of a floor, And as smoke out of a window.

4 And I [am] Jehovah thy God from the land of Egypt, And a God besides Me thou dost not know, And a Saviour -- there is none save Me.

5 I -- I have known thee in a wilderness, In a land of droughts.

6 According to their feedings they are satiated, They have been satiated, And their heart is lifted up, Therefore they have forgotten Me,

7 And I am to them as a lion, As a leopard by the way I look out.

8 I do meet them as a bereaved bear, And I rend the enclosure of their heart.

9 And I consume them there as a lioness, A beast of the field doth rend them.

10 Thou hast destroyed thyself, O Israel, But in Me [is] thy help, Where [is] thy king now -- And he doth save thee in all thy cities? And thy judges of whom thou didst say, `Give to me a king and heads?'

11 I give to thee a king in Mine anger, And I take away in My wrath.

12 Bound up [is] the iniquity of Ephraim, Hidden [is] his sin,

13 Pangs of a travailing woman come to him, He [is] a son not wise, For he remaineth not the time for the breaking forth of sons.

14 From the hand of Sheol I do ransom them, From death I redeem them, Where [is] thy plague, O death? Where thy destruction, O Sheol? Repentance is hid from Mine eyes.

15 Though he among brethren produceth fruit, Come in doth an east wind, a wind of Jehovah, From a wilderness it is coming up, And it drieth up his fountain, And become dry doth his spring, It -- it
spoileth a treasure -- every desirable vessel.

16 Become desolate doth Samaria, Because she hath rebelled against her God, By sword they do fall, Their sucklings are dashed in pieces, And its pregnant ones are ripped up!

[_consiglieri]

The Lord does the converting and His Word spells out how.

Could you maybe just skip ahead to that part?

[_I have a question]

Frank Burns: [spotting Hawkeye browsing through his personal shelf] What are you doing up there?
Hawkeye Pierce: I just wanted to borrow your Bible, Frank.
Frank Burns: Since when are you two interested in the Bible?
‘‘Trapper John’ McIntyre: I peeked at the end, Frank. The Devil did it.

[_LittleNipper]

Hosea 14:1-9

Dear Israel, return to the Lord, for your sins have smashed you.

Pray. Come to the Lord and say, “Dear Lord, take away our sins; be gracious to us and accept us, and we will bring You the sacrifice of praise.

Assyria cannot save us, nor can our strength in battle; never again will we call the idols we have made ‘our gods’; for in you alone, O Lord, the fatherless find mercy.”

“Then I will cure you of idolatry and faithlessness, and My love is limitless, for my anger will end gone!

I will refresh Israel like the dew from heaven; she will bloom as the lily and root deeply in the soil like Lebanon's cedar.

Her branches will spread out as beautiful as olive trees, fragrant as the forests of Lebanon.

Israel's people will return from a distant exile and rest beneath My shadow. They will be a watered garden and ripen like grapes; they will be as fragrant as the wines of Lebanon.

Dear Ephraim! Stay away from idols! I am living and strong! I look after you and care for you. I am like an evergreen tree, yielding my fruit to you throughout the year. My mercies never fail.”

Whoever is wise, let him comprehend this. Whoever is intelligent, let him listen. The directions of the Lord are true and right, and good men walk along them. But unredeemed attempting them will fail.

Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 Turn back, O Israel, unto Jehovah thy God, For thou hast stumbled by thine iniquity.

2 Take with you words, and turn to Jehovah, Say ye unto Him: `Take away all iniquity, and give good, And we do render the fruit of our lips.

3 Asshur doth not save us, on a horse we ride not, Nor do we say any more, Our God, to the work of our hands, For in Thee find mercy doth the fatherless.'

4 I heal their backsliding, I love them freely, For turned back hath Mine anger from him.

5 I am as dew to Israel, he flourisheth as a lily, And he striketh forth his roots as Lebanon.

6 Go on do his sucklings, And his beauty is as an olive, And he hath fragrance as Lebanon.

7 Return do the dwellers under his shadow, They revive [as] corn, and flourish as a vine, His memorial [is] as wine of Lebanon.

8 O Ephraim, what to Me any more with idols? I -- I afflicted, and I cause him to sing: `I [am] as a green fir-tree,' From Me is thy fruit found.

9 Who [is] wise, and doth understand these? Prudent, and knoweth them? For upright are the ways of Jehovah, And the righteous go on in them, And the transgressors stumble therein!

[_LittleNipper]

Joel 1:1-20

The Lord revealed this message to Pethuel's son Joel.

Now Hear this, you leaders of the people. Listen, everyone living in the land. Throughout your history, has anything occurred like this before?

Tell your children concerning this in the future, and encourage your children to tell those of their own. Pass the story along from generation to generation.

What is left by the palmer-worm, the locust eats. And what locust misses, the cankerworm will consume. And what the cankerworm misses, the caterpillar will eat!

Wake up, you drunkards, and cry! Wail, all you wine-drinkers! All the grapes are ruined, and all your sweet wine is gone.

A vast army has invaded My land --- one too numerous to count. Its teeth are like lions’ teeth, its fangs like those of a lioness.

It has destroyed My grapevines and ruined My fig trees, stripping their bark, leaving the branches bleached and bare.

Weep like a bride dressed in black, mourning her deceased husband.

For there is no grain or wine to even offer at the Temple of the Lord. So the priests are in mourning. The ministers of the Lord are weeping.

The fields are ruined --- the land stripped bare. The grain is destroyed --the grapes blighted, and the olive oil is gone.

Despair, farmers! Weep, vine growers! Weep, because the wheat and barley— all the crops of the field—are ruined.

The grapevines have dried up, and the fig trees have withered. The pomegranate, palm, and apple trees— all the fruit trees—have dried up. And the people’s joys withered along with them.

Wrap yourselves in burlap and weep, priests! Wail, you who serve before the altar! Spend the night in burlap -- ministers of my God. For there is no grain or wine to offer at God's temple.

Announce a time of fasting; gather the people for a solemn meeting. Bring everyone of the land into the Temple of the Lord, and cry out to him there.

The day of the Lord is approaching, the day when destruction comes from the Almighty. How terrible that day will be!

Our food disappears before our eyes. No celebrations are held in the house of our God.

The seeds die in the cracked dirt, and the grain crops die. The barns stand empty, and granaries are abandoned.

How the animals moan with hunger! The herds of cattle wander about confused, because they have no pasture. The flocks of sheep and goats bleat in misery.

Lord, help us! The fire has consumed the wild pasture land, and flames have burned all the trees.

Even the wild animals cry out to You because the streams have gone dry, and fire has consumed the wild pastures.


Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 A word of Jehovah that hath been unto Joel, son of Pethuel:

2 Hear this, ye aged ones, And give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land, Hath this been in your days? Or in the days of your fathers?

3 Concerning it to your sons talk ye, And your sons to their sons, And their sons to another generation.

4 What is left of the palmer-worm, eaten hath the locust, And what is left of the locust, Eaten hath the cankerworm, And what is left of the cankerworm, Eaten hath the caterpillar.

5 Awake, ye drunkards, and weep, And howl all drinking wine, because of the juice, For it hath been cut off from your mouth.

6 For a nation hath come up on my land, Strong, and there is no number, Its teeth [are] the teeth of a lion, And it hath the jaw-teeth of a lioness.

7 It hath made my vine become a desolation, And my fig-tree become a chip, It hath made it thoroughly bare, and hath cast down, Made white have been its branches.

8 Wail, as a virgin girdeth with sackcloth, For the husband of her youth.

9 Cut off hath been present and libation from the house of Jehovah, Mourned have the priests, ministrants of Jehovah.

10 Spoiled is the field, mourned hath the ground, For spoiled is the corn, Dried up hath been new wine, languish doth oil.

11 Be ashamed, ye husbandmen, Howl, vine-dressers, for wheat and for barley, For perished hath the harvest of the field.

12 The vine hath been dried up, And the fig-tree doth languish, Pomegranate, also palm, and apple-tree, All trees of the field have withered, For dried up hath been joy from the sons of men.

13 Gird, and lament, ye priests, Howl, ye ministrants of the altar, Come in, lodge in sackcloth, ministrants of my God, For withheld from the house of your God hath been present and libation.

14 Sanctify a fast, proclaim a restraint, Gather the elders -- all the inhabitants of the land, [Into] the house of Jehovah your God,

15 And cry unto Jehovah, `Alas for the day! For near [is] a day of Jehovah, And as destruction from the mighty it cometh.

16 Is not before our eyes food cut off? From the house of our God joy and rejoicing?

17 Rotted have scattered things under their clods, Desolated have been storehouses, Broken down have been granaries, For withered hath the corn.

18 How have cattle sighed! Perplexed have been droves of oxen, For there is no pasture for them, Also droves of sheep have been desolated.

19 Unto Thee, O Jehovah, I do call, For fire hath consumed comely places of a wilderness, And a flame hath set on fire all trees of the field.

20 Also the cattle of the field long for Thee, For dried up have been streams of water, And fire hath consumed comely places of a wilderness!'

[_LittleNipper]

Joel 2:1-32

Blow that ram’s horn in Zion, sound an alarm on My holy mountain! All living on earth will tremble, because the day of the Lord is very near—

a day of dark & gloom, clouds and thick darkness. Like blackness spreading over the mountain, a great and mighty army comes, such as was never before, and will not happen again,

Before them fire consumes and behind them flames flare up; the land is like the garden of Eden before them, but behind them an empty wasteland, and nothing escapes them.

They have the appearance of horses, and like cavalry they quickly move.

As with the sound of chariots, they hop upon the mountaintops, as with the sound of a flame of fire consuming stubble, as a mighty army dressed for battle.

Ahead of them, peoples are upset --- faces turn pale.

Like mighty men they sprint, like men of war they scale a wall; each marches on his way straight ahead.

They do not bump together; each marches in his lane. Through the weapons they plunge; they do not break rank.

They rush the city, run upon the wall, climb up into the houses-- entering through the windows like thieves.

Before them the earth quakes, the heavens shake, the sun and moon darken, and the stars withdraw their radiance.

The Lord has sounded His voice before His army. His camp is exceedingly large; mighty is the one who accomplishes His word. For great is the day of the Lord, and awesome. Who can endure it? Return to the Lord

Yet even now, declares the Lord, return to Me with all your heart, fasting, weeping and mourning.

Rend your heart, and don't make a show; return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love--- He is slow to punish.

Who knows? He might turn aside and relent, and He might leave behind a blessing—a grain offering and a food offering for the Lord your God.

Blast the ram’s horn in Zion, consecrate a fast, call a sacred assembly.

Collect the people, consecrate the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children and the babies; let the bridegroom leave his room and the bride her chamber.

Between the temple porch and the altar, let the priests, ministers of the Lord, weep and say, “Take pity upon Your people, and do not disgrace Your heritage' to be mocked throughout other nations.
Why should they say among the peoples, ‘So, where's their God?’ ”

Then the Lord became jealous for His land and took pity upon His people.

So the Lord answered and said to His people, Here! I am giving you grain, new wine, and oil, and you will be satisfied, and I will never again make you a disgrace among the nations.

I will take the northerner far from you, and I will banish him to an arid and empty land, those in front to the eastern sea, and those in back to the western sea, and his stink will rise, and his stench will rise, for he has done great things.

Do not be afraid, land. Exult and rejoice, for the Lord has done great things!

Do not be afraid, beasts of the field, because the wild pastures flourish, because the tree bears its fruit; the fig tree and the vine yield their abundance.

And children of Zion, exult and rejoice in the Lord your God, because He has given to you the early rain for vindication. He showers down rains for you, the early and latter rain, as before.

Then the threshing floors will be filled with grain, and the vats will overflow with new wine and oil.

And I will pay you back for the years the locusts have eaten—the larval locust, the hopper locust, and the fledging locust—My great army which I sent against you.

You will eat abundantly and be satisfied, and you will praise the name of the Lord your God, who has worked wonders for you, and My people will never again be shamed.

Then you will know that I am smack in the middle of what is happening in Israel, being that I am the Lord your God, and there exists NO gods.
And My people will never again be shamed. The Outpouring of the Spirit

And afterwards, I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; then your sons and your daughters will foretell, your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions.

Even on the mere men and women servants at that time I will pour out My Spirit.

Then I will work wonders in the heavens and the earth— blood and fire and columns of smoke.

The sun will be darkened, and the moon will appear red, before the great and allsome day of the Lord comes.

And it will be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. For on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors whom the Lord calls.

Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 Blow ye a trumpet in Zion, And shout ye in My holy hill, Tremble do all inhabitants of the earth, For coming is the day of Jehovah, for [it is] near!

2 A day of darkness and thick darkness, A day of cloud and thick darkness, As darkness spread on the mountains, A people numerous and mighty, Like it there hath not been from of old, And after it there
is not again -- till the years of generation and generation.

3 Before it consumed hath fire, And after it burn doth a flame, As the garden of Eden [is] the land before it, And after it a wilderness -- a desolation! And also an escape there hath not been to it,

4 As the appearance of horses [is] its appearance, And as horsemen, so they run.

5 As the noise of chariots, on the tops of the mountains they skip, As the noise of a flame of fire devouring stubble, As a mighty people set in array for battle.

6 From its face pained are peoples, All faces have gathered paleness.

7 As mighty ones they run, As men of war they go up a wall, And each in his own ways they do go, And they embarrass not their paths.

8 And each his brother they press not, Each in his way they go on, If by the missile they fall, they are not cut off.

9 In the city they run to and fro, On the wall they run, Into houses they go up by the windows, They go in as a thief.

10 At their face trembled hath the earth, Shaken have the heavens, Sun and moon have been black, And stars have gathered up their shining.

11 And Jehovah hath given forth His voice before His force, For very great [is] His camp, For mighty [is] the doer of His word, For great [is] the day of Jehovah -- very fearful, And who doth bear it?

12 And also now -- an affirmation of Jehovah, Turn ye back unto Me with all your heart, And with fasting, and with weeping, And with lamentation.

13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, And turn back unto Jehovah your God, For gracious and merciful [is] He, Slow to anger, and abundant in kindness, And He hath repented concerning the
evil.

14 Who knoweth -- He doth turn back, Yea -- He hath repented, And He hath left behind Him a blessing, A present and libation of Jehovah your God?

15 Blow ye a trumpet in Zion, Sanctify a fast -- proclaim a restraint.

16 Gather the people, sanctify an assembly, Assemble the aged, Gather infants and sucklings of the breasts, Go out let a bridegroom from his inner chamber, And a bride out of her closet.

17 Between the porch and the altar weep let the priests, ministrants of Jehovah, And let them say: `Have pity, O Jehovah, on Thy people, And give not Thy inheritance to reproach, To the ruling over
them of nations, Why do they say among peoples, Where [is] their God?'

18 And let Jehovah be zealous for His land, And have pity on His people.

19 Let Jehovah answer and say to His people, `Lo, I am sending to you the corn, And the new wine, and the oil, And ye have been satisfied with it, And I make you no more a reproach among nations,

20 And the northern I put far off from you, And have driven him unto a land dry and desolate, With his face unto the eastern sea, And his rear unto the western sea, And come up hath his stink, And come
up doth his stench, For he hath exerted himself to work.

21 Do not fear, O land! joy and rejoice, For Jehovah hath exerted Himself to work.

22 Do not fear, O cattle of the field! For sprung forth have pastures of a wilderness, For the tree hath borne its fruit, Fig-tree and vine have given their strength!

23 And ye sons of Zion, joy and rejoice, In Jehovah your God, For He hath given to you the Teacher for righteousness, And causeth to come down to you a shower, Sprinkling and gathered -- in the
beginning.

24 And full have been the floors [with] pure corn, And overflown have the presses [with] new wine and oil.

25 And I have recompensed to you the years That consume did the locust, the cankerworm, And the caterpillar, and the palmer-worm, My great force that I did send against you.

26 And ye have eaten, eating and being satisfied, And have praised the name of Jehovah your God, Who hath dealt with you wonderfully, And not ashamed are My people to the age.

27 And ye have known that in the midst of Israel [am] I, And I [am] Jehovah your God, and there is none else, And not ashamed are My people to the age.

28 And it hath come to pass afterwards, I do pour out My Spirit on all flesh, And prophesied have your sons and your daughters, Your old men do dream dreams, Your young men do see visions.

29 And also on the men-servants, and on the maid-servants, In those days I do pour out My Spirit.

30 And I have given wonders in the heavens, and in the earth, Blood and fire, and columns of smoke.

31 The sun is turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, Before the coming of the day of Jehovah, The great and the fearful.

32 And it hath come to pass, Every one who calleth in the name of Jehovah is delivered, For in mount Zion and in Jerusalem there is an escape, As Jehovah hath said, And among the remnants whom
Jehovah is calling!

[_LittleNipper]

Joel 3:1-21

Note, that in those days and at that time when I shall reverse the captivity and restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem,

I'll collect all nations and will bring them into the Valley of Jehoshaphat, and there will I handle and execute judgment upon them for how they treated My people and of My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations and they have divided My land.

And they have cast lots for My people, and have traded a boy for a harlot and have sold a girl for wine and drink it.

Yes, and what are you to ME, Dear Tyre and Sidon and all the subdivions of Philistia? Will you pay Me back for something? Even if you pay Me back quickly, I will return your retaliation] upon your own head.

You have removed My silver and My gold and have carried into your temples and palaces ---My precious treasures.

And have sold the children of Judah and the children of Jerusalem to the sons of the Grecians, that you may remove them faraway from their land.

Behold, I will stir them up out of the place to which you have sold them and will return your deed [of retaliation] upon your own head.

I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans, a country far away, for the Lord said it. Proclaim among the nations:

Prepare to fight! Stir up the mighty men! Let all the men of war come, let them come up.

Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears; let the weak say, I am a warrior!

Hurry and come, all you surrounding countries, and gather yourselves; there You, Dear Lord, will take down Your warriors.

Let the nations rouse themselves and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there will I sit to judge all the surrounding nations .

Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ready; come, get down and smash the grapes, for the winepress is full; the vats overflow, for the wickedness [of the nations] is great.

Multitudes, in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near the valley of decision.

The sun and the moon are darkened and the stars remove their shining.

The Lord will thunder and roar from Zion and utter His voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth shall shake; but the Lord will be a refuge for His people and a fortress to the children of Israel.

So you shall comprehend, understand, and realize that I am the Lord your God, dwelling in Zion, My holy mountain. Then shall Jerusalem be holy, and strangers and foreigners not born into the family of God shall no more progress through it.

And in that day, the mountains shall drip with fresh grape juice and the hills shall flow with milk; and all the brooks and riverbeds of Judah shall flow with water, and a fountain shall spring from the house of the Lord and shall water the Valley of Shittim.

Egypt and Edom shall be desolate wildernesses for their violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land.

But Judah shall stay and be inhabited forever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation.

And I will cleanse and hold as innocent their blood and avenge it, blood which not previously cleansed, held innocent, and avenged, for the Lord dwells in Zion.

Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 For lo, in those days, and in that time, When I turn back [to] the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem,

2 Then I have gathered all the nations, And caused them to go down unto the valley of Jehoshaphat, And I have been judged with them there, Concerning My people and Mine inheritance -- Israel, Whom
they scattered among nations, And My land they have apportioned.

3 And for My people they do cast a lot, And they give the young man for an harlot, And the young woman have sold for wine, That they may drink.

4 And also, what [are] ye to Me, O Tyre and Zidon, And all circuits of Philistia? Recompence are ye rendering unto Me? And if ye are giving recompence to Me, Swiftly, hastily, I turn back your
recompence on your head.

5 In that My silver and My gold ye took, And My desirable things that are good, Ye have brought in to your temples.

6 And sons of Judah, and sons of Jerusalem, Ye have sold to the sons of Javan, To put them far off from their border.

7 Lo, I am stirring them up out of the place Whither ye have sold them, And I have turned back your recompence on your head,

8 And have sold your sons and your daughters Into the hand of the sons of Judah, And they have sold them to Shabeans, Unto a nation far off, for Jehovah hath spoken.

9 Proclaim ye this among nations, Sanctify a war, stir up the mighty ones, Come nigh, come up, let all the men of war.

10 Beat your ploughshares to swords, And your pruning-hooks to javelins, Let the weak say, `I [am] mighty.'

11 Haste, and come in, all ye nations round, And be gathered together, Thither cause to come down, O Jehovah, Thy mighty ones.

12 Wake and come up let the nations unto the valley of Jehoshaphat, For there I sit to judge all the nations around.

13 Send ye forth a sickle, For ripened hath harvest, Come in, come down, for filled hath been the press, Overflowed hath wine-presses, For great [is] their wickedness.

14 Multitudes, multitudes [are] in the valley of decision, For near [is] the day of Jehovah in the valley of decision.

15 Sun and moon have been black, And stars have gathered up their shining.

16 And Jehovah from Zion doth roar, And from Jerusalem giveth forth His voice, And shaken have the heavens and earth, And Jehovah [is] a refuge to his people, And a stronghold to sons of Israel.

17 And ye have known that I [am] Jehovah your God, Dwelling in Zion, My holy mountain, And Jerusalem hath been holy, And strangers do not pass over into it again.

18 And it hath come to pass, in that day, Drop down do the mountains juice, And the hills do flow [with] milk, And all streams of Judah do go [with] water, And a fountain from the house of Jehovah goeth
forth, And hath watered the valley of Shittim.

19 Egypt a desolation becometh, And Edom a desolation, a wilderness, becometh, For violence [to] sons of Judah, Whose innocent blood they shed in their land.

20 And Judah to the age doth dwell, And Jerusalem to generation and generation.

21 And I have declared their blood innocent, [That] I did not declare innocent, And Jehovah is dwelling in Zion!