דְּבַר־יְהֹוָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָיָ֔ה אֶל־יוֹאֵ֖ל בֶּן־פְּתוּאֵֽל׃ The word of GOD that came to Joel son of Pethuel.

שִׁמְעוּ־זֹאת֙ הַזְּקֵנִ֔ים וְהַֽאֲזִ֔ינוּ כֹּ֖ל יוֹשְׁבֵ֣י הָאָ֑רֶץ הֶהָ֤יְתָה זֹּאת֙ בִּֽימֵיכֶ֔ם וְאִ֖ם בִּימֵ֥י אֲבֹתֵיכֶֽם׃ Listen to this, O elders,
Give ear, all inhabitants of the land.
Has the like of this happened in your days
Or in the days of your ancestors?

עָלֶ֖יהָ לִבְנֵיכֶ֣ם סַפֵּ֑רוּ וּבְנֵיכֶם֙ לִבְנֵיהֶ֔ם וּבְנֵיהֶ֖ם לְד֥וֹר אַחֵֽר׃ Tell your children about it,
And let your children tell theirs,
And their children the next generation!

יֶ֤תֶר הַגָּזָם֙ אָכַ֣ל הָאַרְבֶּ֔ה וְיֶ֥תֶר הָאַרְבֶּ֖ה אָכַ֣ל הַיָּ֑לֶק וְיֶ֣תֶר הַיֶּ֔לֶק אָכַ֖ל הֶחָסִֽיל׃ What the cutter has left, the locust has devoured;
What the locust has left, the grub has devoured;
And what the grub has left, the hopper has devoured.^acutter…locust…grub…hopper The meaning of the corresponding Heb. terms is uncertain; they probably designate stages in the locust’s development.

הָקִ֤יצוּ שִׁכּוֹרִים֙ וּבְכ֔וּ וְהֵילִ֖לוּ כׇּל־שֹׁ֣תֵי יָ֑יִן עַל־עָסִ֕יס כִּ֥י נִכְרַ֖ת מִפִּיכֶֽם׃ Wake up, you drunkards, and weep,
Wail, all you swillers of wine—
For the new wine that is denied you!^bdenied you Lit. “cut off from your mouth.”

כִּי־גוֹי֙ עָלָ֣ה עַל־אַרְצִ֔י עָצ֖וּם וְאֵ֣ין מִסְפָּ֑ר שִׁנָּיו֙ שִׁנֵּ֣י אַרְיֵ֔ה וּֽמְתַלְּע֥וֹת לָבִ֖יא לֽוֹ׃ For a nation has invaded my land,
Vast beyond counting,
With teeth like the teeth of a lion,
With the fangs of a lion’s breed.

שָׂ֤ם גַּפְנִי֙ לְשַׁמָּ֔ה וּתְאֵנָתִ֖י לִקְצָפָ֑ה חָשֹׂ֤ף חֲשָׂפָהּ֙ וְהִשְׁלִ֔יךְ הִלְבִּ֖ינוּ שָׂרִיגֶֽיהָ׃ They have laid my vines waste
And splintered my fig trees:
They have stripped off their bark and thrown [it] away;
Their runners have turned white.

אֱלִ֕י כִּבְתוּלָ֥ה חֲגֻרַת־שַׂ֖ק עַל־בַּ֥עַל נְעוּרֶֽיהָ׃ Lament—like a maiden girt with sackcloth
For the husband of her youth!

הׇכְרַ֥ת מִנְחָ֛ה וָנֶ֖סֶךְ מִבֵּ֣ית יְהֹוָ֑ה אָֽבְלוּ֙ הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים מְשָׁרְתֵ֖י יְהֹוָֽה׃ Offering and libation have ceased
From the House of GOD;
The priests must mourn
Who minister to GOD.

שֻׁדַּ֣ד שָׂדֶ֔ה אָבְלָ֖ה אֲדָמָ֑ה כִּ֚י שֻׁדַּ֣ד דָּגָ֔ן הוֹבִ֥ישׁ תִּיר֖וֹשׁ אֻמְלַ֥ל יִצְהָֽר׃ The country is ravaged,
The ground must mourn;
For the new grain is ravaged,
The new wine is dried up,
The new oil has failed.

הֹבִ֣ישׁוּ אִכָּרִ֗ים הֵילִ֙ילוּ֙ כֹּֽרְמִ֔ים עַל־חִטָּ֖ה וְעַל־שְׂעֹרָ֑ה כִּ֥י אָבַ֖ד קְצִ֥יר שָׂדֶֽה׃ Farmers are dismayed
And vine dressers wail
Over wheat and barley;
For the crops of the field are lost.

הַגֶּ֣פֶן הוֹבִ֔ישָׁה וְהַתְּאֵנָ֖ה אֻמְלָ֑לָה רִמּ֞וֹן גַּם־תָּמָ֣ר וְתַפּ֗וּחַ כׇּל־עֲצֵ֤י הַשָּׂדֶה֙ יָבֵ֔שׁוּ כִּי־הֹבִ֥ישׁ שָׂשׂ֖וֹן מִן־בְּנֵ֥י אָדָֽם׃ {ס}         The vine has dried up,
The fig tree withers,
Pomegranate, palm, and apple—
All the trees of the field are sear.
And joy has dried up
Among the people.

חִגְר֨וּ וְסִפְד֜וּ הַכֹּהֲנִ֗ים הֵילִ֙ילוּ֙ מְשָׁרְתֵ֣י מִזְבֵּ֔חַ בֹּ֚אוּ לִ֣ינוּ בַשַּׂקִּ֔ים מְשָׁרְתֵ֖י אֱלֹהָ֑י כִּ֥י נִמְנַ֛ע מִבֵּ֥ית אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֖ם מִנְחָ֥ה וָנָֽסֶךְ׃ Gird yourselves and lament, O priests,
Wail, O ministers of the altar;
Come, spend the night in sackcloth,
O ministers of my God.
For offering and libation are withheld
From the House of your God.

קַדְּשׁוּ־צוֹם֙ קִרְא֣וּ עֲצָרָ֔ה אִסְפ֣וּ זְקֵנִ֗ים כֹּ֚ל יֹשְׁבֵ֣י הָאָ֔רֶץ בֵּ֖ית יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֑ם וְזַעֲק֖וּ אֶל־יְהֹוָֽה׃ Solemnize a fast,
Proclaim an assembly;
Gather the elders—all the inhabitants of the land—
In the House of the ETERNAL your God,
And cry out to GOD.

אֲהָ֖הּ לַיּ֑וֹם כִּ֤י קָרוֹב֙ י֣וֹם יְהֹוָ֔ה וּכְשֹׁ֖ד מִשַּׁדַּ֥י יָבֽוֹא׃ Alas for the day!
For the day of GOD is near;
It shall come like havoc from Shaddai.^cShaddai Traditionally “the Almighty”; see Gen. 17.1.

הֲל֛וֹא נֶ֥גֶד עֵינֵ֖ינוּ אֹ֣כֶל נִכְרָ֑ת מִבֵּ֥ית אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ שִׂמְחָ֥ה וָגִֽיל׃ For food is cut off
Before our very eyes,
And joy and gladness
From the House of our God.

עָבְשׁ֣וּ פְרֻד֗וֹת תַּ֚חַת מֶגְרְפֹ֣תֵיהֶ֔ם נָשַׁ֙מּוּ֙ אֹֽצָר֔וֹת נֶהֶרְס֖וּ מַמְּגֻר֑וֹת כִּ֥י הֹבִ֖ישׁ דָּגָֽן׃ The seeds have shriveled
Under their clods.^dThe seeds … clods Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
The granaries are desolate,
Barns are in ruins,
For the new grain has failed.

מַה־נֶּאֶנְחָ֣ה בְהֵמָ֗ה נָבֹ֙כוּ֙ עֶדְרֵ֣י בָקָ֔ר כִּ֛י אֵ֥ין מִרְעֶ֖ה לָהֶ֑ם גַּם־עֶדְרֵ֥י הַצֹּ֖אן נֶאְשָֽׁמוּ׃ How the animals groan!
The herds of cattle are bewildered
Because they have no pasture,
And the flocks of sheep are dazed.^edazed Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

אֵלֶ֥יךָ יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶקְרָ֑א כִּ֣י אֵ֗שׁ אָֽכְלָה֙ נְא֣וֹת מִדְבָּ֔ר וְלֶ֣הָבָ֔ה לִהֲטָ֖ה כׇּל־עֲצֵ֥י הַשָּׂדֶֽה׃ To You, O ETERNAL One, I call.
For fire has consumed
The pastures in the wilderness,
And flame^ffire…flame I.e., scorching heat. has devoured
All the trees of the countryside.

גַּם־בַּהֲמ֥וֹת שָׂדֶ֖ה תַּעֲר֣וֹג אֵלֶ֑יךָ כִּ֤י יָֽבְשׁוּ֙ אֲפִ֣יקֵי מָ֔יִם וְאֵ֕שׁ אָכְלָ֖ה נְא֥וֹת הַמִּדְבָּֽר׃ {ס}         The very beasts of the field
Cry out to You;
For the watercourses are dried up,
And fire has consumed
The pastures in the wilderness.

תִּקְע֨וּ שׁוֹפָ֜ר בְּצִיּ֗וֹן וְהָרִ֙יעוּ֙ בְּהַ֣ר קׇדְשִׁ֔י יִרְגְּז֕וּ כֹּ֖ל יֹשְׁבֵ֣י הָאָ֑רֶץ כִּי־בָ֥א יוֹם־יְהֹוָ֖ה כִּ֥י קָרֽוֹב׃ Blow a horn in Zion,
Sound an alarm on My holy mount!
Let all dwellers on earth tremble,
For the day of GOD has come!
It is close—

י֧וֹם חֹ֣שֶׁךְ וַאֲפֵלָ֗ה י֤וֹם עָנָן֙ וַעֲרָפֶ֔ל כְּשַׁ֖חַר פָּרֻ֣שׂ עַל־הֶֽהָרִ֑ים עַ֚ם רַ֣ב וְעָצ֔וּם כָּמֹ֗הוּ לֹ֤א נִֽהְיָה֙ מִן־הָ֣עוֹלָ֔ם וְאַֽחֲרָיו֙ לֹ֣א יוֹסֵ֔ף עַד־שְׁנֵ֖י דּ֥וֹר וָדֽוֹר׃ A day of darkness and gloom,
A day of densest cloud
Spread like soot over the hills.
A vast, enormous horde—
Nothing like it has ever happened,
And it shall never happen again
Through the years and ages.

לְפָנָיו֙ אָ֣כְלָה אֵ֔שׁ וְאַחֲרָ֖יו תְּלַהֵ֣ט לֶהָבָ֑ה כְּגַן־עֵ֨דֶן הָאָ֜רֶץ לְפָנָ֗יו וְאַֽחֲרָיו֙ מִדְבַּ֣ר שְׁמָמָ֔ה וְגַם־פְּלֵיטָ֖ה לֹא־הָ֥יְתָה לּֽוֹ׃ Their vanguard is a consuming fire,
Their rear guard a devouring flame.
Before them the land was like the Garden of Eden,
Behind them, a desolate waste:
Nothing has escaped them.

כְּמַרְאֵ֥ה סוּסִ֖ים מַרְאֵ֑הוּ וּכְפָרָשִׁ֖ים כֵּ֥ן יְרוּצֽוּן׃ They have the appearance of horses,
They gallop just like steeds.

כְּק֣וֹל מַרְכָּב֗וֹת עַל־רָאשֵׁ֤י הֶהָרִים֙ יְרַקֵּד֔וּן כְּקוֹל֙ לַ֣הַב אֵ֔שׁ אֹכְלָ֖ה קָ֑שׁ כְּעַ֣ם עָצ֔וּם עֱר֖וּךְ מִלְחָמָֽה׃ With a clatter as of chariots
They bound on the hilltops,
With a noise like a blazing fire
Consuming straw;
Like an enormous horde
Arrayed for battle.

מִפָּנָ֖יו יָחִ֣ילוּ עַמִּ֑ים כׇּל־פָּנִ֖ים קִבְּצ֥וּ פָארֽוּר׃ Peoples tremble before them,
All faces turn ashen.^aturn ashen Meaning of Heb. uncertain; cf. Nah. 2.11.

כְּגִבּוֹרִ֣ים יְרֻצ֔וּן כְּאַנְשֵׁ֥י מִלְחָמָ֖ה יַעֲל֣וּ חוֹמָ֑ה וְאִ֤ישׁ בִּדְרָכָיו֙ יֵֽלֵכ֔וּן וְלֹ֥א יְעַבְּט֖וּן אֹרְחוֹתָֽם׃ They rush like warriors,
They scale a wall like fighters.
And each keeps to his own track.
Their paths never cross;^bcross Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

וְאִ֤ישׁ אָחִיו֙ לֹ֣א יִדְחָק֔וּן גֶּ֥בֶר בִּמְסִלָּת֖וֹ יֵלֵכ֑וּן וּבְעַ֥ד הַשֶּׁ֛לַח יִפֹּ֖לוּ לֹ֥א יִבְצָֽעוּ׃ Not a single one jostles another,
Each keeps to his own course.
And should they fall through a loophole,
They do not get hurt.^cAnd should they fall … not get hurt Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

בָּעִ֣יר יָשֹׁ֗קּוּ בַּֽחוֹמָה֙ יְרֻצ֔וּן בַּבָּתִּ֖ים יַעֲל֑וּ בְּעַ֧ד הַחַלּוֹנִ֛ים יָבֹ֖אוּ כַּגַּנָּֽב׃ They rush up the wall,
They dash about in the city;
They climb into the houses,
They enter like thieves
By way of the windows.

לְפָנָיו֙ רָ֣גְזָה אֶ֔רֶץ רָעֲשׁ֖וּ שָׁמָ֑יִם שֶׁ֤מֶשׁ וְיָרֵ֙חַ֙ קָדָ֔רוּ וְכוֹכָבִ֖ים אָסְפ֥וּ נׇגְהָֽם׃ Before them earth trembles,
Heaven shakes,
Sun and moon are darkened,
And stars withdraw their brightness.

וַיהֹוָ֗ה נָתַ֤ן קוֹלוֹ֙ לִפְנֵ֣י חֵיל֔וֹ כִּ֣י רַ֤ב מְאֹד֙ מַחֲנֵ֔הוּ כִּ֥י עָצ֖וּם עֹשֵׂ֣ה דְבָר֑וֹ כִּֽי־גָד֧וֹל יוֹם־יְהֹוָ֛ה וְנוֹרָ֥א מְאֹ֖ד וּמִ֥י יְכִילֶֽנּוּ׃ And GOD roars aloud
At the head of the divine army;
For vast indeed is this host,
Numberless are those that do God’s bidding.
For great is the day of GOD,
Most terrible—who can endure it?

וְגַם־עַתָּה֙ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֔ה שֻׁ֥בוּ עָדַ֖י בְּכׇל־לְבַבְכֶ֑ם וּבְצ֥וֹם וּבִבְכִ֖י וּבְמִסְפֵּֽד׃ “Yet even now”—says GOD —
“Turn back to Me with all your hearts,
And with fasting, weeping, and lamenting.”

וְקִרְע֤וּ לְבַבְכֶם֙ וְאַל־בִּגְדֵיכֶ֔ם וְשׁ֖וּבוּ אֶל־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֑ם כִּֽי־חַנּ֤וּן וְרַחוּם֙ ה֔וּא אֶ֤רֶךְ אַפַּ֙יִם֙ וְרַב־חֶ֔סֶד וְנִחָ֖ם עַל־הָרָעָֽה׃ Rend your hearts
Rather than your garments,
And turn back to the ETERNAL your God.
For [God] is gracious and compassionate,
Slow to anger, abounding in kindness,
And renouncing punishment.

מִ֥י יוֹדֵ֖עַ יָשׁ֣וּב וְנִחָ֑ם וְהִשְׁאִ֤יר אַחֲרָיו֙ בְּרָכָ֔ה מִנְחָ֣ה וָנֶ֔סֶךְ לַיהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃ {פ}
Who knows but [God] may turn and relent,
And leave a blessing behind
For grain offering and drink offering
To the ETERNAL your God?^dWhen the locusts depart, there will again be yield enough for offerings; see 1.9.

תִּקְע֥וּ שׁוֹפָ֖ר בְּצִיּ֑וֹן קַדְּשׁוּ־צ֖וֹם קִרְא֥וּ עֲצָרָֽה׃ Blow a horn in Zion,
Solemnize a fast,
Proclaim an assembly!

אִסְפוּ־עָ֞ם קַדְּשׁ֤וּ קָהָל֙ קִבְצ֣וּ זְקֵנִ֔ים אִסְפוּ֙ עֽוֹלָלִ֔ים וְיֹנְקֵ֖י שָׁדָ֑יִם יֵצֵ֤א חָתָן֙ מֵֽחֶדְר֔וֹ וְכַלָּ֖ה מֵחֻפָּתָֽהּ׃ Gather the people,
Bid the congregation purify themselves.^epurify themselves Cf. Exod. 19.10; Zeph. 1.7.
Bring together the old,
Gather the babes
And the sucklings at the breast;
Let the bridegroom come out of his chamber,
The bride from her canopied couch.

בֵּ֤ין הָאוּלָם֙ וְלַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ יִבְכּוּ֙ הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים מְשָׁרְתֵ֖י יְהֹוָ֑ה וְֽיֹאמְר֞וּ ח֧וּסָה יְהֹוָ֣ה עַל־עַמֶּ֗ךָ וְאַל־תִּתֵּ֨ן נַחֲלָתְךָ֤ לְחֶרְפָּה֙ לִמְשׇׁל־בָּ֣ם גּוֹיִ֔ם לָ֚מָּה יֹאמְר֣וּ בָעַמִּ֔ים אַיֵּ֖ה אֱלֹהֵיהֶֽם׃ Between the portico and the altar,
Let the priests, GOD’s ministers, weep
And say:
“Oh, spare Your people, ETERNAL One !
Let not Your possession become a mockery,
To be taunted by nations!
Let not the peoples say,
‘Where is their God?’”

וַיְקַנֵּ֥א יְהֹוָ֖ה לְאַרְצ֑וֹ וַיַּחְמֹ֖ל עַל־עַמּֽוֹ׃ Then GOD was roused
In behalf of this land
And had compassion
Upon this people.

וַיַּ֨עַן יְהֹוָ֜ה וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לְעַמּ֗וֹ הִנְנִ֨י שֹׁלֵ֤חַ לָכֶם֙ אֶת־הַדָּגָן֙ וְהַתִּיר֣וֹשׁ וְהַיִּצְהָ֔ר וּשְׂבַעְתֶּ֖ם אֹת֑וֹ וְלֹא־אֶתֵּ֨ן אֶתְכֶ֥ם ע֛וֹד חֶרְפָּ֖ה בַּגּוֹיִֽם׃ In response to this covenanted people
GOD declared:
“I will grant you the new grain,
The new wine, and the new oil,
And you shall have them in abundance.
Nevermore will I let you be
A mockery among the nations.

וְֽאֶת־הַצְּפוֹנִ֞י אַרְחִ֣יק מֵעֲלֵיכֶ֗ם וְהִדַּחְתִּיו֮ אֶל־אֶ֣רֶץ צִיָּ֣ה וּשְׁמָמָה֒ אֶת־פָּנָ֗יו אֶל־הַיָּם֙ הַקַּדְמֹנִ֔י וְסֹפ֖וֹ אֶל־הַיָּ֣ם הָאַחֲר֑וֹן וְעָלָ֣ה בׇאְשׁ֗וֹ וְתַ֙עַל֙ צַחֲנָת֔וֹ כִּ֥י הִגְדִּ֖יל לַעֲשֽׂוֹת׃ I will drive the northerner^fthe northerner I.e., the locusts. Emendation yields “My multitude”; cf. “nation” (1.6), “horde,” “army,” and “host” (2.2, 5, 11, 25). far from you,
I will thrust it into a parched and desolate land—
Its van to the Eastern Sea^gthe Eastern Sea The Dead Sea.
And its rear to the Western Sea;^hthe Western Sea The Mediterranean Sea.
And the stench of it shall go up,
And the foul smell rise.”
For [ GOD ] shall work great deeds.

אַל־תִּֽירְאִ֖י אֲדָמָ֑ה גִּ֣ילִי וּשְׂמָ֔חִי כִּֽי־הִגְדִּ֥יל יְהֹוָ֖ה לַעֲשֽׂוֹת׃ Fear not, O soil, rejoice and be glad;
For GOD has wrought great deeds.

אַל־תִּֽירְאוּ֙ בַּהֲמ֣וֹת שָׂדַ֔י כִּ֥י דָשְׁא֖וּ נְא֣וֹת מִדְבָּ֑ר כִּי־עֵץ֙ נָשָׂ֣א פִרְי֔וֹ תְּאֵנָ֥ה וָגֶ֖פֶן נָתְנ֥וּ חֵילָֽם׃ Fear not, O beasts of the field,
For the pastures in the wilderness
Are clothed with grass.
The trees have borne their fruit;
Fig tree and vine
Have yielded their strength.

וּבְנֵ֣י צִיּ֗וֹן גִּ֤ילוּ וְשִׂמְחוּ֙ בַּיהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֔ם כִּֽי־נָתַ֥ן לָכֶ֛ם אֶת־הַמּוֹרֶ֖ה לִצְדָקָ֑ה וַיּ֣וֹרֶד לָכֶ֗ם גֶּ֛שֶׁם מוֹרֶ֥ה וּמַלְק֖וֹשׁ בָּרִאשֽׁוֹן׃ O children of Zion, be glad,
Rejoice in the ETERNAL your God.
For you have been given the early rain out of kindness,
Now the rain is made to fall [as] formerly—
The early rain and the late—

וּמָלְא֥וּ הַגֳּרָנ֖וֹת בָּ֑ר וְהֵשִׁ֥יקוּ הַיְקָבִ֖ים תִּיר֥וֹשׁ וְיִצְהָֽר׃ And threshing floors shall be piled with grain,
And vats shall overflow with new wine and oil.

וְשִׁלַּמְתִּ֤י לָכֶם֙ אֶת־הַשָּׁנִ֔ים אֲשֶׁר֙ אָכַ֣ל הָאַרְבֶּ֔ה הַיֶּ֖לֶק וְהֶחָסִ֣יל וְהַגָּזָ֑ם חֵילִי֙ הַגָּד֔וֹל אֲשֶׁ֥ר שִׁלַּ֖חְתִּי בָּכֶֽם׃ “I will repay you for the yearsⁱfor the years Emendation yields “double what was.”
Consumed by swarms and hoppers,
By grubs and locusts,
The great army I let loose against you.

וַאֲכַלְתֶּ֤ם אָכוֹל֙ וְשָׂב֔וֹעַ וְהִלַּלְתֶּ֗ם אֶת־שֵׁ֤ם יְהֹוָה֙ אֱלֹ֣הֵיכֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֥ה עִמָּכֶ֖ם לְהַפְלִ֑יא וְלֹא־יֵבֹ֥שׁוּ עַמִּ֖י לְעוֹלָֽם׃ And you shall eat your fill
And praise the name of the ETERNAL your God
Who dealt so wondrously with you—
My people shall be shamed no more.

וִידַעְתֶּ֗ם כִּ֣י בְקֶ֤רֶב יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אָ֔נִי וַאֲנִ֛י יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֖ם וְאֵ֣ין ע֑וֹד וְלֹֽא־יֵבֹ֥שׁוּ עַמִּ֖י לְעוֹלָֽם׃ {פ}
And you shall know
That I am in the midst of Israel:
That I the ETERNAL One am your God
And there is no other.
And My people shall be shamed no more.”

וְהָיָ֣ה אַחֲרֵי־כֵ֗ן אֶשְׁפּ֤וֹךְ אֶת־רוּחִי֙ עַל־כׇּל־בָּשָׂ֔ר וְנִבְּא֖וּ בְּנֵיכֶ֣ם וּבְנוֹתֵיכֶ֑ם זִקְנֵיכֶם֙ חֲלֹמ֣וֹת יַחֲלֹמ֔וּן בַּח֣וּרֵיכֶ֔ם חֶזְיֹנ֖וֹת יִרְאֽוּ׃ After that,
I will pour out My spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and daughters shall prophesy;
Your elders shall dream dreams,
And your youths shall see visions.

וְגַ֥ם עַל־הָעֲבָדִ֖ים וְעַל־הַשְּׁפָח֑וֹת בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֔מָּה אֶשְׁפּ֖וֹךְ אֶת־רוּחִֽי׃ I will even pour out My spirit
Upon male and female slaves in those days.

וְנָֽתַתִּי֙ מֽוֹפְתִ֔ים בַּשָּׁמַ֖יִם וּבָאָ֑רֶץ דָּ֣ם וָאֵ֔שׁ וְתִֽימְר֖וֹת עָשָֽׁן׃ Before the great and terrible day of GOD comes,^aBefore the great and terrible day of GOD comes Moved up from v. 4 for clarity.
I will set portents in the sky and on earth:
Blood and fire and pillars of smoke;

הַשֶּׁ֙מֶשׁ֙ יֵהָפֵ֣ךְ לְחֹ֔שֶׁךְ וְהַיָּרֵ֖חַ לְדָ֑ם לִפְנֵ֗י בּ֚וֹא י֣וֹם יְהֹוָ֔ה הַגָּד֖וֹל וְהַנּוֹרָֽא׃ The sun shall turn into darkness
And the moon into blood.

וְהָיָ֗ה כֹּ֧ל אֲשֶׁר־יִקְרָ֛א בְּשֵׁ֥ם יְהֹוָ֖ה יִמָּלֵ֑ט כִּ֠י בְּהַר־צִיּ֨וֹן וּבִירוּשָׁלַ֜͏ִם תִּֽהְיֶ֣ה פְלֵיטָ֗ה כַּֽאֲשֶׁר֙ אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה וּבַ֨שְּׂרִידִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה קֹרֵֽא׃ But everyone who invokes GOD’s name shall escape; for there shall be a remnant on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, as GOD promised. Anyone who invokes GOD will be among the survivors.^bAnyone who invokes GOD will be among the survivors Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

כִּ֗י הִנֵּ֛ה בַּיָּמִ֥ים הָהֵ֖מָּה וּבָעֵ֣ת הַהִ֑יא אֲשֶׁ֥ר (אשוב) [אָשִׁ֛יב] אֶת־שְׁב֥וּת יְהוּדָ֖ה וִירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ For lo! in those days
And in that time,
When I restore the fortunes
Of Judah and Jerusalem,

וְקִבַּצְתִּי֙ אֶת־כׇּל־הַגּוֹיִ֔ם וְה֣וֹרַדְתִּ֔ים אֶל־עֵ֖מֶק יְהוֹשָׁפָ֑ט וְנִשְׁפַּטְתִּ֨י עִמָּ֜ם שָׁ֗ם עַל־עַמִּ֨י וְנַחֲלָתִ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר פִּזְּר֣וּ בַגּוֹיִ֔ם וְאֶת־אַרְצִ֖י חִלֵּֽקוּ׃ I will gather all the nations
And bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat.^aJehoshaphat Here understood as “GOD contends”; contrast v. 12.
There I will contend with them
Over My very own people, Israel,
Which they scattered among the nations.
For they divided My land among themselves

וְאֶל־עַמִּ֖י יַדּ֣וּ גוֹרָ֑ל וַֽיִּתְּנ֤וּ הַיֶּ֙לֶד֙ בַּזּוֹנָ֔ה וְהַיַּלְדָּ֛ה מָכְר֥וּ בַיַּ֖יִן וַיִּשְׁתּֽוּ׃ And cast lots over My people;
And they bartered a boy for a whore,
And sold a girl for wine, which they drank.

וְ֠גַ֠ם מָה־אַתֶּ֥ם לִי֙ צֹ֣ר וְצִיד֔וֹן וְכֹ֖ל גְּלִיל֣וֹת פְּלָ֑שֶׁת הַגְּמ֗וּל אַתֶּם֙ מְשַׁלְּמִ֣ים עָלָ֔י וְאִם־גֹּמְלִ֤ים אַתֶּם֙ עָלַ֔י קַ֣ל מְהֵרָ֔ה אָשִׁ֥יב גְּמֻֽלְכֶ֖ם בְּרֹאשְׁכֶֽם׃ What is this you are doing to Me, O Tyre, Sidon, and all the districts of Philistia? Are you requiting Me for something I have done, or are you doing something for My benefit? Quick as a flash, I will pay you back;

אֲשֶׁר־כַּסְפִּ֥י וּזְהָבִ֖י לְקַחְתֶּ֑ם וּמַֽחֲמַדַּי֙ הַטֹּבִ֔ים הֲבֵאתֶ֖ם לְהֵיכְלֵיכֶֽם׃ for you have taken My gold and My silver, and have carried off My precious treasures to your palaces;

וּבְנֵ֤י יְהוּדָה֙ וּבְנֵ֣י יְרוּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם מְכַרְתֶּ֖ם לִבְנֵ֣י הַיְּוָנִ֑ים לְמַ֥עַן הַרְחִיקָ֖ם מֵעַ֥ל גְּבוּלָֽם׃ and you have sold the people of Judah and the people of Jerusalem to the Ionians, so that you have removed them far away from their homeland.

הִנְנִ֣י מְעִירָ֔ם מִ֨ן־הַמָּק֔וֹם אֲשֶׁר־מְכַרְתֶּ֥ם אֹתָ֖ם שָׁ֑מָּה וַהֲשִׁבֹתִ֥י גְמֻֽלְכֶ֖ם בְּרֹאשְׁכֶֽם׃ Behold, I will rouse them to leave the place you have sold them to, and I will pay you back:

וּמָכַרְתִּ֞י אֶת־בְּנֵיכֶ֣ם וְאֶת־בְּנֽוֹתֵיכֶ֗ם בְּיַד֙ בְּנֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֔ה וּמְכָר֥וּם לִשְׁבָאיִ֖ם אֶל־גּ֣וֹי רָח֑וֹק כִּ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה דִּבֵּֽר׃ {פ}
I will deliver your sons and daughters into the hands of the people of Judah, and they will sell them into captivity to a distant nation—for GOD has spoken.

קִרְאוּ־זֹאת֙ בַּגּוֹיִ֔ם קַדְּשׁ֖וּ מִלְחָמָ֑ה הָעִ֙ירוּ֙ הַגִּבּוֹרִ֔ים יִגְּשׁ֣וּ יַֽעֲל֔וּ כֹּ֖ל אַנְשֵׁ֥י הַמִּלְחָמָֽה׃ Proclaim this among the nations:
Prepare for battle!
Arouse the warriors,
Let all the fighters come and draw near!

כֹּ֤תּוּ אִתֵּיכֶם֙ לַחֲרָב֔וֹת וּמַזְמְרֹֽתֵיכֶ֖ם לִרְמָחִ֑ים הַֽחַלָּ֔שׁ יֹאמַ֖ר גִּבּ֥וֹר אָֽנִי׃ Beat your plowshares^bplowshares See note at Isa. 2.4. into swords,
And your pruning hooks into spears.
Let even the weakling say, “I am strong.”

ע֣וּשׁוּ וָבֹ֧אוּ כׇֽל־הַגּוֹיִ֛ם מִסָּבִ֖יב וְנִקְבָּ֑צוּ שָׁ֕מָּה הַֽנְחַ֥ת יְהֹוָ֖ה גִּבּוֹרֶֽיךָ׃ Rouse yourselves^cRouse yourselves Meaning of Heb. uncertain. and come,
All you nations;
Come together
From round about.
There bring down^dbring down Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
Your warriors, O ETERNAL One !

יֵע֙וֹרוּ֙ וְיַעֲל֣וּ הַגּוֹיִ֔ם אֶל־עֵ֖מֶק יְהוֹשָׁפָ֑ט כִּ֣י שָׁ֗ם אֵשֵׁ֛ב לִשְׁפֹּ֥ט אֶת־כׇּל־הַגּוֹיִ֖ם מִסָּבִֽיב׃ Let the nations rouse themselves and march up
To the Valley of Jehoshaphat;^eJehoshaphat Here understood as “GOD judges”; contrast v. 2.
For there I will sit in judgment
Over all the nations round about.

שִׁלְח֣וּ מַגָּ֔ל כִּ֥י בָשַׁ֖ל קָצִ֑יר בֹּ֤אֽוּ רְדוּ֙ כִּֽי־מָ֣לְאָה גַּ֔ת הֵשִׁ֙יקוּ֙ הַיְקָבִ֔ים כִּ֥י רַבָּ֖ה רָעָתָֽם׃ Swing the sickle,
For the crop is ripe;
Come and tread,
For the winepress is full,
The vats are overflowing!
For great is their wickedness.

הֲמוֹנִ֣ים הֲמוֹנִ֔ים בְּעֵ֖מֶק הֶחָר֑וּץ כִּ֤י קָרוֹב֙ י֣וֹם יְהֹוָ֔ה בְּעֵ֖מֶק הֶחָרֽוּץ׃ Multitudes upon multitudes
In the Valley of Decision!
For the day of GOD is at hand
In the Valley of Decision.

שֶׁ֥מֶשׁ וְיָרֵ֖חַ קָדָ֑רוּ וְכוֹכָבִ֖ים אָסְפ֥וּ נׇגְהָֽם׃ Sun and moon are darkened,
And stars withdraw their brightness.

וַיהֹוָ֞ה מִצִּיּ֣וֹן יִשְׁאָ֗ג וּמִירוּשָׁלַ֙͏ִם֙ יִתֵּ֣ן קוֹל֔וֹ וְרָעֲשׁ֖וּ שָׁמַ֣יִם וָאָ֑רֶץ וַֽיהֹוָה֙ מַחֲסֶ֣ה לְעַמּ֔וֹ וּמָע֖וֹז לִבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ And GOD will roar from Zion,
And shout aloud from Jerusalem,
So that heaven and earth tremble.
But GOD will be a shelter to this covenanted people,
A refuge to the children of Israel.

וִידַעְתֶּ֗ם כִּ֣י אֲנִ֤י יְהֹוָה֙ אֱלֹ֣הֵיכֶ֔ם שֹׁכֵ֖ן בְּצִיּ֣וֹן הַר־קׇדְשִׁ֑י וְהָיְתָ֤ה יְרֽוּשָׁלַ֙͏ִם֙ קֹ֔דֶשׁ וְזָרִ֥ים לֹא־יַֽעַבְרוּ־בָ֖הּ עֽוֹד׃ {ס}         And you shall know that I the ETERNAL your God
Dwell in Zion, My holy mount.
And Jerusalem shall be holy;
Nevermore shall strangers pass through it.

וְהָיָה֩ בַיּ֨וֹם הַה֜וּא יִטְּפ֧וּ הֶהָרִ֣ים עָסִ֗יס וְהַגְּבָעוֹת֙ תֵּלַ֣כְנָה חָלָ֔ב וְכׇל־אֲפִיקֵ֥י יְהוּדָ֖ה יֵ֣לְכוּ מָ֑יִם וּמַעְיָ֗ן מִבֵּ֤ית יְהֹוָה֙ יֵצֵ֔א וְהִשְׁקָ֖ה אֶת־נַ֥חַל הַשִּׁטִּֽים׃ And in that day,
The mountains shall drip with wine,
The hills shall flow with milk,
And all the watercourses of Judah shall flow with water;
A spring shall issue from the House of GOD
And shall water the Wadi of the Acacias.

מִצְרַ֙יִם֙ לִשְׁמָמָ֣ה תִֽהְיֶ֔ה וֶאֱד֕וֹם לְמִדְבַּ֥ר שְׁמָמָ֖ה תִּֽהְיֶ֑ה מֵֽחֲמַס֙ בְּנֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־שָׁפְכ֥וּ דָם־נָקִ֖יא בְּאַרְצָֽם׃ Egypt shall be a desolation,
And Edom a desolate waste,
Because of the outrage to the people of Judah,
In whose land they shed the blood of the innocent.

וִיהוּדָ֖ה לְעוֹלָ֣ם תֵּשֵׁ֑ב וִירוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם לְד֥וֹר וָדֽוֹר׃ But Judah shall be inhabited forever,
And Jerusalem throughout the ages.

וְנִקֵּ֖יתִי דָּמָ֣ם לֹֽא־נִקֵּ֑יתִי וַיהֹוָ֖ה שֹׁכֵ֥ן בְּצִיּֽוֹן׃ Thus I will treat as innocent their blood
That I have not treated as innocent;^fI will treat as innocent their blood / That I have not treated as innocent Emendation yields “their unavenged blood shall be avenged.”
And GOD shall dwell in Zion.