Revised Literal Translation

Joel 3

1For, behold, in those daysבַּיָּמִ֥יםbai.ya.MimH3117,and in that timeוּבָעֵ֣תu.va.'EtH6256,when I shall bring againאָשִׁ֛יב'a.shuvH7725the captivityשְׁב֥וּתshe.VutH7622of Judahיְהוּדָ֖הye.hu.DahH3063and Jerusalemוִירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃vi.ru.sha.LimH3389,

2I will also gatherוְקִבַּצְתִּי֙ve.ki.batz.TiH6908all nationsהַגּוֹיִ֔םha.go.YimH1471,and will bring them downוְה֣וֹרַדְתִּ֔יםve.Ho.rad.TimH3381into the valleyעֵ֖מֶק'E.mekH6010of Jehoshaphatיְהֽוֹשָׁפָ֑טye.ho.sha.FatH3092,and will pleadוְנִשְׁפַּטְתִּ֨יve.nish.pa.TiH8199with them there for my peopleעַמִּ֨י'a.MiH5971and formy heritageוְנַחֲלָתִ֤יve.na.cha.la.TiH5159Israelיִשְׂרָאֵל֙Yis.ra.'ElH3478,whom they have scatteredפִּזְּר֣וּpi.ze.RuH6340among the nationsבַגּוֹיִ֔םva.go.YimH1471,and partedחִלֵּֽקוּ׃chi.Le.kuH2505my landאַרְצִ֖י'ar.TziH776.

3And they have castיַדּ֣וּya.DuH3032lotsגוֹרָ֑לgo.RalH1486for my peopleעַמִּ֖י'a.MiH5971;and have givenH5414a boyהַיֶּ֙לֶד֙hai.Ye.ledH3206for an harlotבַּזּוֹנָ֔הba.zo.NahH2181,and soldמָכְר֥וּma.khe.RuH4376a girlוְהַיַּלְדָּ֛הve.hai.yal.DahH3207for wineבַיַּ֖יִןvai.Ya.yinH3196,that they might drinkוַיִּשְׁתּֽוּ׃vai.yish.TuH8354.

4Yea, and what have ye to do with me, O Tyreצֹ֣רtzorH6865,and Sidonוְצִיד֔וֹןve.tzi.DonH6721,and all the coastsגְּלִיל֣וֹתge.li.LotH1552of Palestineפְּלָ֑שֶׁתpe.La.shetH6429?will ye renderמְשַׁלְּמִ֣יםme.sha.le.MimH7999me a recompenceהַגְּמ֗וּלha.ge.MulH1576?and if ye recompenseגֹּמְלִ֤יםgo.me.LimH1580me, swiftlyקַ֣לkalH7031andspeedilyמְהֵרָ֔הme.he.RahH4120will I returnאָשִׁ֥יב'a.ShivH7725your recompenceגְּמֻלְכֶ֖םge.mul.KhemH1576upon your own headבְּרֹאשְׁכֶֽם׃be.ro.she.KhemH7218;

5Because ye have takenלְקַחְתֶּ֑םle.kach.TemH3947my silverכַּסְפִּ֥יkas.PiH3701and my goldוּזְהָבִ֖יu.ze.ha.ViH2091,and have carriedהֲבֵאתֶ֖םha.ve.TemH935into your templesלְהֵיכְלֵיכֶֽם׃le.hei.khe.lei.KhemH1964my goodlyהַטֹּבִ֔יםha.to.VimH2896pleasant thingsוּמַֽחֲמַדַּי֙u.ma.cha.ma.DaiH4261:

6The childrenוּבְנֵ֤יu.ve.NeiH1121also of Judahיְהוּדָה֙ye.hu.DahH3063and the childrenוּבְנֵ֣יu.ve.NeiH1121of Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֔םye.ru.sha.LimH3389have ye soldמְכַרְתֶּ֖םme.khar.TemH4376unto the Greciansלִבְנֵ֣י הַיְּוָנִ֑יםliv.Nei hai.ye.va.NimH1121 H3125,that ye might remove them farהַרְחִיקָ֖םhar.chi.KamH7368from their borderגְּבוּלָֽם׃ge.vu.LamH1366.

7Behold, I will raiseמְעִירָ֔םme.'i.RamH5782them out of the placeהַ֨מָּק֔וֹםha.ma.KomH4725whither ye have soldמְכַרְתֶּ֥םme.khar.TemH4376them, and will returnוַהֲשִׁבֹתִ֥יva.ha.shi.vo.TiH7725your recompenceגְמֻלְכֶ֖םge.mul.KhemH1576upon your own headבְּרֹאשְׁכֶֽם׃be.ro.she.KhemH7218:

8And I will sellוּמָכַרְתִּ֞יu.ma.khar.TiH4376your sonsבְּנֵיכֶ֣םbe.nei.KhemH1121and your daughtersבְּנֽוֹתֵיכֶ֗םbe.no.tei.KhemH1323into the handבְּיַד֙be.YadH3027of the childrenבְּנֵ֣יbe.NeiH1121of Judahיְהוּדָ֔הye.hu.DahH3063,and they shall sellוּמְכָר֥וּםu.me.kha.RumH4376them to the Sabeansלִשְׁבָאיִ֖םlish.va.YimH7615,to a peopleגּ֣וֹיGoyH1471far offרָח֑וֹקra.ChokH7350:for Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068hath spokenדִּבֵּֽר׃ סdi.BerH1696it.

9Proclaimקִרְאוּ־kir.'u-H7121ye this among the Gentilesבַּגּוֹיִ֔םba.go.YimH1471;Prepareקַדְּשׁ֖וּka.de.ShuH6942warמִלְחָמָ֑הmil.cha.MahH4421,wake upהָעִ֙ירוּ֙ha.'I.ruH5782the mighty menהַגִּבּוֹרִ֔יםha.gi.bo.RimH1368,let all the menאַנְשֵׁ֥י'an.SheiH582of warהַמִּלְחָמָֽה׃ha.mil.cha.MahH4421draw nearיִגְּשׁ֣וּyi.ge.ShuH5066;let them come upיַֽעֲל֔וּya.'a.LuH5927:

10Beatכֹּ֤תּוּKo.tuH3807your plowsharesאִתֵּיכֶם֙'i.tei.KhemH855into swordsלַֽחֲרָב֔וֹתla.cha.ra.VotH2719,and your pruninghooksוּמַזְמְרֹֽתֵיכֶ֖םu.maz.me.ro.tei.KhemH4211into spearsלִרְמָחִ֑יםlir.ma.ChimH7420:let the weakהַֽחַלָּ֔שׁha.cha.LashH2523sayיֹאמַ֖רyo.MarH559, I amstrongגִּבּ֥וֹרgi.BorH1368.

11Assembleע֣וּשׁוּ'U.shuH5789yourselves, and comeוָבֹ֧אוּva.Vo.'uH935,all ye heathenהַגּוֹיִ֛םha.go.YimH1471,and gather yourselves togetherוְנִקְבָּ֑צוּve.nik.Ba.tzuH6908round aboutמִסָּבִ֖יבmi.sa.VivH5439:thither cause thy mighty onesגִּבּוֹרֶֽיךָ׃gi.bo.Rei.khaH1368to come downהַֽנְחַ֥תhan.ChatH5181,O Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068.

12Let the heathenהַגּוֹיִ֔םha.go.YimH1471be wakenedיֵע֙וֹרוּ֙ye.'o.ruH5782,and come upוְיַעֲל֣וּve.ya.'a.LuH5927to the valleyעֵ֖מֶק'E.mekH6010of Jehoshaphatיְהֽוֹשָׁפָ֑טye.ho.sha.FatH3092:for there will I sitאֵשֵׁ֛ב'e.ShevH3427to judgeלִשְׁפֹּ֥טlish.PotH8199all the heathenהַגּוֹיִ֖םha.go.YimH1471round aboutמִסָּבִֽיב׃mi.sa.VivH5439.

13Putשִׁלְח֣וּshil.ChuH7971ye in the sickleמַגָּ֔לma.GalH4038,for the harvestקָצִ֑ירka.TzirH7105is ripeבָשַׁ֖לva.ShalH1310:comeבֹּ֤אֽוּBo.'uH935,get you downH3381;for the pressגַּ֔תGatH1660is fullמָ֣לְאָהMal.'ahH4390,the pressfatsהַיְקָבִ֔יםhay.ka.VimH3342overflowהֵשִׁ֙יקוּ֙he.Shi.kuH7783;for their wickednessרָעָתָֽם׃ra.'a.TamH7451isgreatרַבָּ֖הra.BahH7227.

14Multitudesהֲמוֹנִ֣יםha.mo.NimH1995,multitudesהֲמוֹנִ֔יםha.mo.NimH1995in the valleyבְּעֵ֖מֶקbe.'E.mekH6010of decisionהֶֽחָר֑וּץhe.cha.RutzH2742:for the dayי֣וֹםYomH3117of Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068isnearקָרוֹב֙ka.rOvH7138in the valleyבְּעֵ֖מֶקbe.'E.mekH6010of decisionהֶחָרֽוּץ׃he.cha.RutzH2742.

15The sunשֶׁ֥מֶשׁShe.meshH8121and the moonוְיָרֵ֖חַve.ya.Re.achH3394shall be darkenedקָדָ֑רוּka.Da.ruH6937,and the starsוְכוֹכָבִ֖יםve.kho.kha.VimH3556shall withdrawאָסְפ֥וּ'a.se.FuH622their shiningנָגְהָֽם׃na.ge.HamH5051.

16Yhwhוַיהוָ֞הva.Yah.wehH3068also shall roarיִשְׁאָ֗גyish.'AgH7580out of Zionמִצִּיּ֣וֹןmi.tzi.YonH6726,and utterיִתֵּ֣ןyi.TenH5414his voiceקוֹל֔וֹko.LoH6963from Jerusalemוּמִירוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙u.mi.ru.sha.LimH3389;and the heavensשָׁמַ֣יִםsha.Ma.yimH8064and the earthוָאָ֑רֶץva.'A.retzH776shall shakeוְרָעֲשׁ֖וּve.ra.'a.ShuH7493:But Yhwhוַֽיהוָה֙va.Yah.wehH3068will bethe hopeמַֽחֲסֶ֣הma.cha.SehH4268of his peopleלְעַמּ֔וֹle.'a.MoH5971,and the strengthוּמָע֖וֹזu.ma.'ozH4581of the childrenלִבְנֵ֥יliv.NeiH1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Yis.ra.'ElH3478.

17So shall ye knowוִֽידַעְתֶּ֗םvi.da'.TemH3045that I amYhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068your Godאֱלֹ֣הֵיכֶ֔ם'e.Lo.hei.KhemH430dwellingשֹׁכֵ֖ןsho.KhenH7931in Zionבְּצִיּ֣וֹןbe.tzi.YonH6726,my holyקָדְשִׁ֑יkod.shiH6944mountainהַר־har-H2022:then shall Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ye.ru.sha.LimH3389be holyקֹ֔דֶשׁKo.deshH6944,and there shall no strangersוְזָרִ֥יםve.za.RimH2114pass throughיַֽעַבְרוּ־ya.'av.ru-H5674her any more.

18And it shall come to pass in that dayבַיּ֨וֹםvai.YomH3117, thatthe mountainsהֶהָרִ֣יםhe.ha.RimH2022shall drop downיִטְּפ֧וּyi.te.FuH5197new wineעָסִ֗יס'a.SisH6071,and the hillsוְהַגְּבָעוֹת֙ve.ha.ge.va.'OtH1389shall flowH3212with milkחָלָ֔בcha.LavH2461,and all the riversאֲפִיקֵ֥י'a.fi.KeiH650of Judahיְהוּדָ֖הye.hu.DahH3063shall flowH3212with watersמָ֑יִםMa.yimH4325,and a fountainוּמַעְיָ֗ןu.ma'.YanH4599shall come forthיֵצֵ֔אye.Tze'H3318of the houseמִבֵּ֤יתmi.BeitH1004of Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068,and shall waterוְהִשְׁקָ֖הve.hish.KahH8248the valleyנַ֥חַלNa.chalH5158of Shittimהַשִּׁטִּֽים׃ha.shi.TimH7851.

19Egyptמִצְרַ֙יִם֙mitz.Ra.yimH4714shall be a desolationלִשְׁמָמָ֣הlish.ma.MahH8077,and Edomוֶאֱד֕וֹםve.'e.DomH123shall be a desolateשְׁמָמָ֖הshe.ma.MahH8077wildernessלְמִדְבַּ֥רle.mid.BarH4057,for the violenceמֵֽחֲמַס֙me.cha.MasH2555againstthe childrenבְּנֵ֣יbe.NeiH1121of Judahיְהוּדָ֔הye.hu.DahH3063,because they have shedשָׁפְכ֥וּsha.fe.KhuH8210innocentנָקִ֖יאna.Ki'H5355bloodדָם־dom-H1818in their landבְּאַרְצָֽם׃be.'ar.TzamH776.

20But Judahוִיהוּדָ֖הvi.hu.DahH3063shall dwellתֵּשֵׁ֑בte.ShevH3427for everלְעוֹלָ֣םle.'o.LamH5769,and Jerusalemוִירוּשָׁלִַ֖םvi.ru.sha.LimH3389from generationלְד֥וֹרle.DorH1755to generationוָדֽוֹר׃va.DorH1755.

21For I will cleanseוְנִקֵּ֖יתִיve.ni.Kei.tiH5352their bloodדָּמָ֣םda.MamH1818thatI have not cleansedנִקֵּ֑יתִיni.Kei.tiH5352:for Yhwhוַֽיהוָ֖הva.Yah.wehH3068dwellethשֹׁכֵ֥ןsho.KhenH7931in Zionבְּצִיּֽוֹן׃be.tzi.YonH6726.

Commentaries on Joel 3