Joel 2:18-27

God promises to bless his people

18 Then the Lord showed that he loved his land.

He chose to be kind to his people.

19 He answered them,

‘Listen! I will now give you plenty of grain, new wine and olive oil.

You will have as much as you need.

I will never again allow people of foreign nations to laugh at you.

20 I will take the army from the north far away from you.

I will send it to a dry land where nothing grows.

Those who march in the front of that army

I will send into the Salt Sea in the east.

And I will send those who are at the back

into the Mediterranean Sea in the west.

Their dead bodies will make a disgusting smell.’

Yes, the Lord has done great things!

21 Land, do not be afraid!

Instead, be very happy,

because the Lord has done great things.

22 Wild animals, do not be afraid!

The fields in the wilderness again have grass

and they are green.

Fruit is growing on the trees.

The fig trees and the vines have plenty of fruit.

23 Shout with joy, people of Zion!

Be very happy because of the things

that the Lord your God has done.

He has shown you that he is faithful.

He has given you rain in the right seasons,

as he has done before.

24 Now there is plenty of grain on your threshing floors.

Your jars are full of new wine and olive oil.

25 The Lord says,

‘I will give back to you the food that the locusts destroyed.

I sent that great army of locusts to punish you.

But I will now give you back as much food

as all the different locusts ate during those years.

26 You will have plenty to eat.

You will not be hungry any more.

I have done great things for you.

So you will praise the name of the Lord your God.

My people will never again be ashamed.

27 You will know that I am among my people in Israel.

I am the Lord your God.

There is no one else.

My people will never again be ashamed.