The nations judged

In Hebrew texts 3:1-21 is numbered 4:1-21. 1‘In those days and at that time,

when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem,

2I will gather all nations

and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat.3:2 Jehoshaphat means the Lord judges; also in verse 12.

There I will put them on trial

for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel,

because they scattered my people among the nations

and divided up my land.

3They cast lots for my people

and traded boys for prostitutes;

they sold girls for wine to drink.

4‘Now what have you against me, Tyre and Sidon and all you regions of Philistia? Are you repaying me for something I have done? If you are paying me back, I will swiftly and speedily return on your own heads what you have done. 5For you took my silver and my gold and carried off my finest treasures to your temples.3:5 Or palaces 6You sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks, that you might send them far from their homeland.

7‘See, I am going to rouse them out of the places to which you sold them, and I will return on your own heads what you have done. 8I will sell your sons and daughters to the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans, a nation far away.’ The Lord has spoken.

9Proclaim this among the nations:

Prepare for war!

Rouse the warriors!

Let all the fighting men draw near and attack.

10Beat your ploughshares into swords

and your pruning hooks into spears.

Let the weakling say,

‘I am strong!’

11Come quickly, all you nations from every side,

and assemble there.

Bring down your warriors, Lord!

12‘Let the nations be roused;

let them advance into the Valley of Jehoshaphat,

for there I will sit

to judge all the nations on every side.

13Swing the sickle,

for the harvest is ripe.

Come, trample the grapes,

for the winepress is full

and the vats overflow –

so great is their wickedness!’

14Multitudes, multitudes

in the valley of decision!

For the day of the Lord is near

in the valley of decision.

15The sun and moon will be darkened,

and the stars no longer shine.

16The Lord will roar from Zion

and thunder from Jerusalem;

the earth and the heavens will tremble.

But the Lord will be a refuge for his people,

a stronghold for the people of Israel.

Blessings for God’s people

17‘Then you will know that I, the Lord your God,

dwell in Zion, my holy hill.

Jerusalem will be holy;

never again will foreigners invade her.

18‘In that day the mountains will drip new wine,

and the hills will flow with milk;

all the ravines of Judah will run with water.

A fountain will flow out of the Lord’s house

and will water the valley of acacias.3:18 Or Valley of Shittim

19But Egypt will be desolate,

Edom a desert waste,

because of violence done to the people of Judah,

in whose land they shed innocent blood.

20Judah will be inhabited for ever

and Jerusalem through all generations.

21Shall I leave their innocent blood unavenged?

No, I will not.’

The Lord dwells in Zion!