Study Desk

^[a]Yes, in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem,^(a)

I will gather all the nations^(b) and take them to the Valley of Jehoshaphat.^[b](c) I will enter into judgment with them there^(d) because of My people, My inheritance Israel. The nations have scattered the Israelites in foreign countries^(e) and divided up My land.^(f)

They cast lots for My people;^(g) they bartered a boy for a prostitute and sold a girl for wine to drink.^(h)

And also: Tyre,⁽ⁱ⁾ Sidon, and all the territories of Philistia^(j)—what are you to Me? Are you paying Me back or trying to get even with Me? I will quickly bring retribution on your heads.^(k)

For you took My silver and gold and carried My finest treasures^(l) to your temples.

You sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks^(m) to remove them far from their own territory.

Look, I am about to rouse them up from the place where you sold them;⁽ⁿ⁾ I will bring retribution on your heads.

I will sell your sons and daughters into the hands of the people of Judah,^(o) and they will sell them to the Sabeans,^[c](p) to a distant nation, for the Lord has spoken.

Proclaim this among the nations:^(q) Prepare for holy war;^(r) rouse the warriors;^(s) let all the men of war advance and attack!

Beat your plows into swords and your pruning knives into spears.^(t) Let even the weakling say, "I am a warrior."

Come quickly,^[d] all you surrounding nations; gather yourselves.^(u) Bring down Your warriors there, Lord .^(v)

Let the nations be roused and come to the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit down to judge all the surrounding nations.^(w)

Swing the sickle because the harvest is ripe.^(x) Come and trample the grapes because the winepress is full;^(y) the wine vats overflow because the wickedness of the nations is great.^(z)

Multitudes, multitudes^(aa) in the valley of decision! For the Day of the Lord is near^(ab) in the valley of decision.

The sun and moon will grow dark, and the stars will cease their shining.^(ac)

The Lord will roar from Zion^(ad) and raise His voice from Jerusalem;^(ae) heaven and earth will shake.^(af) But the Lord will be a refuge for His people,^(ag) a stronghold for the Israelites.^(ah)

Then you will know that I am Yahweh your God,^(ai) who dwells in Zion, My holy mountain.^(aj) Jerusalem will be holy,^(ak) and foreigners will never overrun it again.^(al)

In that day the mountains will drip with sweet wine,^(am) and the hills will flow with milk.^(an) All the streams of Judah will flow with water,^(ao) and a spring will issue from the Lord 's house,^(ap) watering the Valley of Acacias.^[e](aq)

Egypt will become desolate, and Edom a desert wasteland, because of the violence done to the people of Judah^(ar) in whose land they shed innocent blood.

But Judah will be inhabited forever,^(as) and Jerusalem from generation to generation.

I will pardon their bloodguilt,^[f](at) which I have not pardoned, for the Lord dwells in Zion.