15-17 “The sky turns black,
    sun and moon go dark, stars burn out.
God roars from Zion, shouts from Jerusalem.
    Earth and sky quake in terror.
But God is a safe hiding place,
    a granite safe house for the children of Israel.
Then you’ll know for sure
    that I’m your God,
Living in Zion,
    my sacred mountain.
Jerusalem will be a sacred city,
    posted: ‘no trespassing.’

Milk Rivering out of the Hills

18-21 “What a day!
    Wine streaming off the mountains,
Milk rivering out of the hills,
    water flowing everywhere in Judah,
A fountain pouring out of God’s Sanctuary,
    watering all the parks and gardens!
But Egypt will be reduced to weeds in a vacant lot,
    Edom turned into barren badlands,
All because of brutalities to the Judean people,
    the atrocities and murders of helpless innocents.
Meanwhile, Judah will be filled with people,
    Jerusalem inhabited forever.
The sins I haven’t already forgiven, I’ll forgive.”
    God has moved into Zion for good.

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16 The Lord will roar(A) from Zion
    and thunder from Jerusalem;(B)
    the earth and the heavens will tremble.(C)
But the Lord will be a refuge(D) for his people,
    a stronghold(E) for the people of Israel.

Blessings for God’s People

17 “Then you will know(F) that I, the Lord your God,(G)
    dwell in Zion,(H) my holy hill.(I)
Jerusalem will be holy;(J)
    never again will foreigners invade her.(K)

18 “In that day the mountains will drip new wine,(L)
    and the hills will flow with milk;(M)
    all the ravines of Judah will run with water.(N)
A fountain will flow out of the Lord’s house(O)
    and will water the valley of acacias.[a](P)

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Footnotes

  1. Joel 3:18 Or Valley of Shittim