4 lies. They are all adulterers; they are as an oven heated by the baker; he ceaseth to stir the fire, from the kneading of the 5 dough until it be leavened. On the day of our king the princes made themselves sick with the heat of wine; he stretched out his hand with scorners. 6 For they have made ready their heart like an oven, whiles they lie in wait: 4 their baker sleepeth all the night; in the morning it burneth as a flaming fire. 7 They are all hot as an oven, and devour their judges; all their kings are fallen: there is none among them that calleth 8 unto me. Ephraim, he mixeth himself among the peoples; Ephraim is a cake 9 not turned. Strangers have devoured

his strength, and he knoweth it not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, 10 and he knoweth it not. And the pride

of Israel doth testify to his face: yet they have not returned unto the LORD their 11 God, nor sought him, for all this. And

Ephraim is like a silly dove, without understanding: they call unto Egypt, 12 they go to Assyria. When they shall go,

I will spread my net upon them; I will bring them down as the fowls of the heaven: I will chastise them, as their 13 congregation hath heard. Woe unto them! for they have wandered from me; destruction unto them! for they have trespassed against me: though I would redeem them, yet they have spoken lies 14 against me. And they have not cried unto me with their heart, but they howl upon their beds: they assemble themselves for corn and wine, they rebel a15 gainst me. Though I have 10 taught and strengthened their arms, yet do they 16 imagine mischief against me.

They

return, but not to him that is on high; they are like a deceitful bow: their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue: this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.

8 11Set the trumpet to thy mouth. As an eagle he cometh against the house of the LORD: because they have transgressed my covenant, and trespassed a2 gainst my law. They shall cry unto me, 3 My God, we Israel know thee. Israel

hath cast off that which is good: the en4 emy shall pursue him. They have set up kings, but not by me; 12 they have made princes, and I knew it not: of their silver and their gold have they made them 5 idols, that they may be cut off. He hath cast off thy calf, O Samaria; mine anger is kindled against them: how long will 6 it be ere they attain to innocency? For from Israel is even this; the workman made it, and it is no God: yea, the calf of 7 Samaria shall be broken in pieces. For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: 18 he hath no standing corn; the blade shall yield no meal; if so be it yield, strangers shall swallow Sit up. Israel is swallowed up now are

14 Heb. loves,

15 Or, as other

wise read,

shall sorrow

a little little while

ora

18 See Is. x.& Many

ancient authorities

have, king and or, I wrote for

princes.

him the ten thousand things of my law,

&c.

they among the nations as a vessel 9 wherein is no pleasure For they are gone up to Assyria, like a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired 14 lov10 ers. Yea, though they hire among the nations, now will I gather them; and they 15 begin to be minished by reason of the burden of the 16 king of princes. 11 Because Ephraim hath multiplied altars to sin, altars have been unto him 12 to sin. 17Though I write for him my law in ten thousand precepts, they are 13 counted as a strange thing. As for the sacrifices of mine offerings, they sacrifice flesh and eat it; but the LORD accepteth them not: now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their 14 sins; they shall return to Egypt. For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and builded 18 palaces; and Judah hath multiplied fenced cities: but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the 19 castles thereof. 9 Rejoice not, O Israel, 20 for joy, like the but they peoples; 21 for thou hast gone a whor-18 Or. ing from thy God, thou hast loved hire temples 2 upon every cornfloor. The threshing. floor and the winepress shall not feed them, and the new wine shall fail her. 3 They shall not dwell in the LORD's land; but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and they shall eat unclean food in Assyria. 4 They shall not pour out wine offerings to the LORD, 22 neither shall they be pleasing unto him: their sacrifices shall be unto them as the bread of mourners; all that eat thereof shall be polluted for their bread shall be foring unto their appetite; it shall not come into the 5 house of the LORD. What will ye do in the day of solemn assembly, and in the 6 day of the feast of the LORD? For, lo, they are gone away from destruction, yet Egypt shall gather them up, Memphis shall bury them: their pleasant things of silver, nettles shall possess them: thorns shall be in their tents. 7 The days of visitation are come, the days of recompence are come; Israel shall know it: the prophet is a fool, the man that hath the spirit is mad, for the multitude of thine iniquity, and 8 because the enmity is great. Ephraim

was a watchman with my God: as for the prophet, a fowler's snare is in all his ways, and enmity in the house of 9 his God. They have deeply corrupted themselves, as in the days of Gibeah: he will remember their iniquity, he 10 will visit their sins. I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstripe in the fig tree at her first season: but they came to Baal-peor, and 24 consecrated themselves unto the 25 shameful thing, and became abominable like that which they loved. As for Ephraim, their glory shall fly away like a bird: there shall be no birth, and none with child, and

11

19 Or, palaces

Or, unto exult 21 Or, that

ation

22 Or.

neither

their sacrifices be pleas

him:

their

bread shall be unto them &c.

23 Or. watcheth against

2 Or, separated 25 Heb.

shame.

1 Or, as I have seen, is

like Tyre, that is planted

&c.

2 Or, pros perity 3 Or, obelisks

4 Or, He hath divided their

heart

5 Or.

smooth

6 Or, they swear

falsely, they

make

coven-
ants

7 Or, shail spring

ер

8 Heb. rosh.

See Deut. xxix. 18. • Heb. Che

marim. See 2 Kings xxiii. 5. 10 See ch.

12 no conception. Though they bring up their children, yet will I bereave them, that there be not a man left: yea, woe also to them when I depart from them! 13 Ephraim, like as I have seen Tyre,

is planted in a pleasant place: but Ephraim shall bring out his children to 14 the slayer. Give them, O LORD: what

wilt thou give? give them a miscarry15 ing womb and dry breasts. All their wickedness is in Gilgal; for there I hated them: because of the wickedness of their doings I will drive them out of mine house: I will love them no more; all their princes are revolt16 ers. Ephraim is smitten, their root is dried up, they shall bear no fruit: yea, though they bring forth, yet will I slay the beloved fruit of their womb. 17 My God will cast them away, because they did not hearken unto him: and they shall be wanderers among the nations.

10 Israel is a luxuriant vine, which putteth forth his fruit: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath multiplied his altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly 23 pillars. Their heart is divided; now shall they be found guilty: he shall smite their altars, he shall spoil their 33 pillars. Surely now shall they say,

We have no king: for we fear not the LORD; and the king, what can he do for 4 us? They speak vain words, 6 swearing falsely in making covenants: therefore judgement 7springeth up as hem5 lock in the furrows of the field. The inhabitants of Samaria shall be in terror for the calves of Beth-aven: for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests thereof that rejoiced over it, for the glory thereof, because it is de6 parted from it. It also shall be carried unto Assyria for a present to 10 king Jareb: Ephraim shall receive shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his own 7 counsel. 11 As for Samaria, her king is Scut off, as 12foam upon the water. The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us; and to the hills, Fall 9 on us. O Israel, thou hast sinned 18 from the days of Gibeah: 14there they stood; that the battle against the children of iniquity should not 10 overtake them in Gibeah. When it is my desire, I will chastise them; and the peoples shall be gathered against them, when they are 16 bound 1117 to their two transgressions. And Ephraim is an heifer that is taught, that loveth to tread out the corn; but I have passed over upon her fair neck: I will set a rider on Ephraim; Judah shall 17 Or. for 12 plow, Jacob shall break his clods. Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap

v. 13.

11 Or, Samaria is cut off with her

king

12 Or. twigs 13 Or,

more than in the days 14 Or, there have they

con

tinued

15 Or. shall not the

battle... Gibeah)

15 Or, yoked

teach you

Or. frithire c

20 Or.

according to mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and 18 rain right13 eousness upon you. Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of 19lies: for thou didst trust in thy way, in the 14 multitude of thy mighty men. Therefore shall a tumult arise among thy 21 people, and all thy fortresses shall be Heb spoiled, as Shalman spoiled Beth-arbel peoples. in the day of battle: the mother was dashed in pieces with her children. 15 22 So shall Beth-el do unto you becauser, s of your great wickedness: at daybreak done shall the king of Israel be utterly cut off.

11 When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt. 2 As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto the Baalim, and burned incense to graven images. 3 Yet I taught Ephraim to go; I took them on my arms; but they knew not that 4 I healed them. I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love; and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat before them. 5 He shall not return into the land of Egypt; but the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to return. 6 And the sword shall fall upon his cities, and shall consume his bars, and devour them, because of their own 7 counsels. And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they call them to him that is on high, none at

aging

Beth-el

He
on

Ar took

his arms

8 all will 25 exalt him. How shall I give 300 A thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my 9 compassions are kindled together. I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city.. 10 They shall walk after the LORD, who

shall roar like a lion: for he shall roar,, and the children shall come trem11 bling from the west. They shall come trembling as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Assyria: and I will make them to dwell in their houses, saith the LORD.

womb he took his brother by the heel; and in his manhood he had power 4 with God: yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him at Beth-el, and there he spake with 5 us; even the LORD, the God of hosts; 6 the LORD is his memorial. Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgement, and wait on thy God continually.

7 He is 5a trafficker, the balances of deceit are in his hand he loveth to 6 op8 press. And Ephraim said, Surely I am become rich, I have found me wealth: in all my labours they shall find in 9 me none iniquity that were sin. But I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt; I will yet again make thee to dwell in tents, as in the days of the sol10 emn feast. I have also spoken unto the prophets, and I have multiplied visions; and by the ministry of the prophets 11 have I used similitudes. Is Gilead iniquity? they are altogether vanity; in Gilgal they sacrifice bullocks: yea, their altars are as heaps in the fur12 rows of the field. And Jacob fled into the field of Aram, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept 13 sheep. And by a prophet the LORD

brought Israel up out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved. 14 Ephraim hath provoked to anger most bitterly: therefore shall his blood be left upon him, and his reproach shall his Lord return unto him. 13 When Ephraim 10spake, there was trembling; he exalted himself in Israel:

but when he 11 offended in Baal, he died. 2 And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, even idols according to their own understanding, all of them the work of the craftsmen: they say of them, Let 12the men that sacrifice kiss the 3 calves. Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the dew that passeth early away, as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the threshing-floor, and as the smoke out of 4 the chimney. Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt; and thou 18 shalt know no god but me, and beside 5 me there is no saviour. I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great 6 drought. According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted: therefore 7 have they forgotten me. Therefore am I unto them as a lion: as a leopard 8 will I watch by the way: I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart and there will I devour them

Thou

14 Or. art destroyed, for thou

0 Israel;

&c. 15 Or, for

in me, in thy help Or, but in me is thy help Some

ancient
versions

who

have, shall help!

16 Or. when it

like a lion; the wild beast shall tear 9 them. 14It is thy destruction, O Israel, is that thou art against me, against thy 10 help. Where now is thy king, that he may save thee in all thy cities? and thy judges, of whom thou saidst, Give me 11 a king and princes? I have given thee a king in mine anger, and have taken 12 him away in my wrath. The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is laid 13 up in store. The sorrows of a travailing woman shall come upon him: he is an unwise son; 16 for it is time he should not tarry in the place of the breaking 14 forth of children. I will ransom them from the 17 power of 18 the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, 19 where are thy plagues? O 18 grave, 19 where is thy destruction? repentance shall be hid from mine eyes. Though he be fruitful among his brethren, an east wind shall come, the 20 breath of Sheol. the LORD coming up from the wilderness, and his spring shall become dry, Or, and his fountain shall be dried up: 21 he shall spoil the treasure of all pleasant vessels. Samaria shall 22 bear her guilt; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword; their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up.

15

16

is time, eth not in de

he stand

17 Heb. hand. 18 Heb.

19 Or. I will be

wind 21 Or, it

Ch. xiv. 1 in Heb.] 2 Or. become

desolate

23 Or,

receive us gra

ciously Sept.

24 The

and

Syriac

have. the fruit

of our

14 O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine 2 iniquity. Take with you words, and return unto the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and 23 accept that which is good: so will we render 24 as bullocks the offering of our lips. 3 Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless 4 findeth mercy. I will heal their back-lips. sliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him. 5I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall blossom as the lily, and cast forth 6 his roots as Lebanon. His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as 7 Lebanon. They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and blossom as the vine: 25 the scent thereof shall be as the wine 8 of Lebanon. 26 Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have answered, and will regard him: I am like a green fir tree; from me is 9 thy fruit found. Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them; but transgressors shall fall therein.

25 Or. morial Or, 0

his me

raim,

what &c.

1 THE word of the LORD that came to Joel the son of Pethuel.

2 Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land. Hath this been in your days, or in the days 3 of your fathers? Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another 4 generation. That which the palmerworm hath left hath 1 the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpiller eaten. 5 Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the sweet wine; for it is cut off 5 from your mouth. For a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number; his teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the jaw 7 teeth of a great lion. He hath laid my vine waste, and 2barked my fig tree: he hath made it clean bare, and cast it 3away; the branches thereof are made 8 white. Lament like a virgin girded with sackcloth for the husband of her youth. 9 The meal offering and the drink offering is cut off from the house of the LORD; the priests, the LORD's minis10 ters, mourn. The field is wasted, the land mourneth; for the corn is wasted, the new wine is dried up, the oil lan11 guisheth. Be ashamed, O ye hus

bandmen, howl, O ye vinedressers, for the wheat and for the barley; for the 12 harvest of the field is perished. The vine is withered, and the fig tree languisheth; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field are withered: for joy is withered away from the sons 13 of men. Gird yourselves with sackcloth, and lament, ye priests; howl, ye ministers of the altar; come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God for the meal offering and the drink offering is withholden from the 14 house of your God. Sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the old men and all the inhabitants of the land unto the house of the LORD your God, 15 and cry unto the LORD. Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD is at hand, and as destruction from the Almighty 16 shall it come. Is not the meat cut off before our eyes, yea, joy and gladness 17 from the house of our God? The seeds

8 rot under their clods; the garners are laid desolate, the barns are broken 18 down; for the corn is withered. How do the beasts groan! the herds of cattle

2

1: Or.

Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain; let all the inhabitants of the land tremble for the day of the LORD cometh, 2 for it is nigh at hand; a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, as the dawn spread upon the mountains; a great people and a strong, there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after them, even to the years of many gener3ations. A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and none hath escaped 4 them. The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as 11horse5 men, so do they run. Like the noise of chariots on the tops of the mountains do they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a 6 strong people set in battle array. At their presence the peoples are in an7 guish all faces are waxed pale. They run like mighty men; they climb the wall like men of war; and they march every one on his ways, and they break Snot their ranks. Neither doth one thrust another; they march every one in his path: and 12 they burst through the weapons, and 18 break not off their 9 course. They leap upon the city; they run upon the wall; they climb up into the houses; they enter in at the wind-they k 10 ows like a thief. The earth quaketh before them; the heavens tremble: the wounded sun and the moon are darkened, and 11 the stars withdraw their shining: and the LORD uttereth his voice before his army; for his camp is very great; for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it? 12 Yet even now, saith the LORD, turn ye unto me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with 13 mourning: and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy, and repenteth

1 Or. elders

2 Or, use a byword against

them

23 Or, with his forepart 4 Or, toward

6 Or, in (or for) right

eousness

6 Or, at
the first

7 See ch. i. 4.

14 him of the evil. Who knoweth whether he will not turn and repent, and leave a blessing behind him, even a meal offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?

15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a 16 fast, call a solemn assembly: gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the old men, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his cham17 ber, and the bride out of her closet. Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the nations should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the peoples, Where is their God?

18 Then was the LORD jealous for his land, 19 and had pity on his people. And the LORD answered and said unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you 20 a reproach among the nations: but I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, his forepart 4 into the eastern sea, and his hinder part 4into the western sea; and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, be21 cause he hath done great things. Fear not, O land, be glad and rejoice; for 22 the LORD hath done great things.

Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field; for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their 23 strength. Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he giveth you the former rain in just measure, and he causeth to come down for you the rain, the former rain and the latter rain, in the 24 first month. And the floors shall be full

of wheat, and the fats shall overflow 25 with wine and oil. And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great 26 army which I sent among you. And ye shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and shall praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be a27 shamed. And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and there is none else: and my people shall never be ashamed. [Ch. ii. 1 28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young 29 men shall see visions: and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.

in Heb.

8 Or,

in the

remnant whom

&c.

(Ch iv. 1 in Heb.]

12.

10 Or, will

ye repay

a deed of mine, or

will e do aught swiftly

unto me?

30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, 31 and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible 32 day of the LORD come. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those that escape, as the LORD hath said, and among the remnant those whom the LORD doth 3 call. For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, 2 I will gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jeho- 9 See ver. shaphat; and I will plead with them there for my people and for my herit age Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land. 3 And they have cast lots for my people: and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they 4 might drink. Yea, and what are ye to me, O Tyre, and Zidon, and all the regions of Philistia? 10 will ye render me a recompence? and if ye recompense me, swiftly and speedily will I return your recompence upon your own head. 5 Forasmuch as ye have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried into your temples my goodly pleasant things; 6 the children also of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have ye sold unto the sons of the Grecians, that ye might re7 move them far from their border: behold, I will stir them up out of the place whither ye have sold them, and will return your "recompence upon your own 8 head; and I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the men of Sheba, to a nation far off for the LORD hath spoken it. 9 Proclaim ye this among the nations; 12 prepare war: stir up the mighty men; let all the men of war draw near, let 10 them come up. Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong. 1113 Haste ye, and come, all ye nations 13 Or, round about, and gather yourselves together: thither cause thy mighty ones 12 to come down, O LORD. Let the nations bestir themselves, and come up to the valley of 14 Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the nations round ab13 out. Put ye in the sickle, for the 15 har-judgeth. vest is ripe: come, 16 tread ye; for the winepress is full, the fats overflow; for 15 Or, get 14 their wickedness is great. Multitudes,

multitudes in the valley of decision! for the day of the LORD is near in the 15 valley of decision. The sun and the

moon are darkened, and the stars with16 draw their shining. And the LORD shall roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens

&c. 11 Or, deed

12 Heb. sanctify.

Assemble yourselves

That is, LORD

The

15 Or, vintage

down