Free Bible VersionBerean Standard Bible

1. The LORD Judges the Nations

2. 1FBVAt that time when this happens, when I bring back the exiles to Judah and Jerusalem,BSBBSB: “Yes, in those days and at that time, when I restore Judah and Jerusalem from captivity,
3. 2FBVI will gather together all the nations in the valley of Jehoshaphat and I will judge them there over my people Israel, my inheritance, whom they have scattered among the nations, and have divided up my land.BSBBSB: I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will enter into judgment against them concerning My people, My inheritance, Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations as they divided up My land.
4. 3FBVThey cast lots for my people; they traded boys in payment for prostitutes and girls to buy wine to drink.BSBBSB: They cast lots for My people; they bartered a boy for a prostitute and sold a girl for wine to drink.
5. 4FBVAlso, what have you got to do with me, Tyre and Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia? Are you trying to get back at me? If you are trying to pay me back, I will quickly pay you back what you deserve for what you've done.BSBBSB: Now what do you have against Me, O Tyre, Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia? Are you rendering against Me a recompense? If you retaliate against Me, I will swiftly and speedily return your recompense upon your heads.
6. 5FBVYou stole my silver and my gold and my best treasures, and you put them in your temples.BSBBSB: For you took My silver and gold and carried off My finest treasures to your temples.
7. 6FBVYou sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks so they could be sent far away from their land.BSBBSB: You sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks, to send them far from their homeland.
8. 7FBVBut watch out! I will get them moving from the places you sold them to, and bring them back, and I will pay you back what you deserve for what you've done.BSBBSB: Behold, I will rouse them from the places to which you sold them; I will return your recompense upon your heads.
9. 8FBVI will sell your sons and daughters to the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans, a distant nation. I the Lord have spoken.BSBBSB: I will sell your sons and daughters into the hands of the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans—to a distant nation.” Indeed, the LORD has spoken.
10. 9FBVProclaim this among the nations: “Prepare for war! Call up the mighty warriors! Let all the soldiers get ready and advance!BSBBSB: Proclaim this among the nations: “Prepare for war; rouse the mighty men; let all the men of war advance and attack!
11. 10FBVHammer your plow blades and turn them into swords. Turn your pruning hooks into spears. Even the weak should say ‘I am a strong fighter!’BSBBSB: Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, ‘I am strong!’
12. 11FBVHurry up and come, all nations from everywhere, and gather there. Bring down your warriors, Lord!BSBBSB: Come quickly, all you surrounding nations, and gather yourselves. Bring down Your mighty ones, O LORD.
13. 12FBVLet the nations get ready, let them come to the valley of Jehoshaphat for there I will sit in judgment on all the nations.BSBBSB: Let the nations be roused and advance to the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit down to judge all the nations on every side.
14. 13FBVStart swinging the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come and tread the grapes for the winepress is full and the vats are overflowing because their wickedness has become so great.BSBBSB: Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, trample the grapes, for the winepress is full; the wine vats overflow because their wickedness is great.
15. 14FBVHuge mobs are in the valley of the Lord's verdict. For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of his verdict.BSBBSB: Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the Day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.
16. 15FBVThe sun and moon will become dark, and the stars will stop shining.BSBBSB: The sun and moon will grow dark, and the stars will no longer shine.
17. 16FBVThe Lord will roar from Zion, shouting in a loud voice from Jerusalem, shaking the heavens and the earth. But the Lord will shelter his people, protecting the people of Israel.BSBBSB: The LORD will roar from Zion and raise His voice from Jerusalem; heaven and earth will tremble. But the LORD will be a refuge for His people, a stronghold for the people of Israel.

18. Blessings for God’s People

19. 17FBVThen you will know that I, the Lord your God, dwell in Zion, my holy mountain, and Jerusalem will be a holy place forever, and no foreigners will ever march through her again.BSBBSB: Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who dwells in Zion, My holy mountain. Jerusalem will be holy, never again to be overrun by foreigners.
20. 18FBVAt that time new wine will pour down the mountains, and the hills will flow with milk, and all the riverbeds of Judah will run with water. A spring will flow out of the Temple and will water the valley of Shittim.BSBBSB: And in that day the mountains will drip with sweet wine, and the hills will flow with milk. All the streams of Judah will run with water, and a spring will flow from the house of the LORD to water the Valley of Acacias.
21. 19FBVBut Egypt will become desolate, and Edom a desert wasteland, because of the violence they did against Judah, for in their land they shed innocent blood.BSBBSB: Egypt will become desolate, and Edom a desert wasteland, because of the violence done to the people of Judah, in whose land they shed innocent blood.
22. 20FBVJudah will be lived in forever, and Jerusalem for all generations.BSBBSB: But Judah will be inhabited forever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation.
23. 21FBVWill I pardon and leave unpunished the shedding of innocent blood? The Lord lives in Zion!”BSBBSB: For I will avenge their blood, which I have not yet avenged.” For the LORD dwells in Zion.