The Locust Plague and Fast
Joel 1
The word of the Lord comes to Joel describing a devastating locust plague, coming in successive waves, that has stripped the vines, fig trees, and fields bare and cut off the grain, oil, and wine along with the offerings at the house of the Lord. Joel calls the elders, priests, and all who dwell in the land to mourn, gird themselves with sackcloth, and proclaim a fast, crying out to the Lord because the day of the Lord is near and drought and fire have consumed the pastures and streams.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonA WORD of the Lord which came to Joel son of Bathuel:
BrentonThe word of the Lord which came to Joel the son of Bathuel.
GreekΛΟΓΟΣ Κυρίου ὃς ἐγενήθη πρὸς Ἰωὴλ τὸν τοῦ Βαθουήλ.
KJVThe word of the LORD that came to Joel the son of Pethuel.
JPSThe word of the LORD that came to Joel the son of Pethuel.
2
ThomsonHear these things ye elders! And give ear all ye inhabitants of the land! Have such things happened in your days, or in the days of your fathers?
BrentonHear these words, ye elders, and hearken all ye that inhabit the land. Have such things happened in your days, or in the days of your fathers?
GreekἈκούσατε ταῦτα, οἱ πρεσβύτεροι, καὶ ἑνωτίσασθε, πάντες οἱ κατοικοῦντες τὴν γῆν. εἰ γέγονεν τοιαῦτα ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἡμῶν, ἢ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις τῶν πατέρων ὑμῶν;
KJVHear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land. Hath this been in your days, or even in the days of your fathers?
JPSHear this, ye old men, And give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land. Hath this been in your days, Or in the days of your fathers?
3
ThomsonOf these things give an account to your children; and let your children tell their children; and their children, another generation.
BrentonTell your children concerning them, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation.
Greekὑπὲρ αὐτῶν τοῖς τέκνοις ὑμῶν διηγήσασθε, καὶ τὰ τέκνα ὑμῶν τοῖς τέκνοις αὐτῶν, καὶ τὰ τέκνα αὐτῶν εἰς γενεὰν ἑτέραν.
KJVTell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation.
JPSTell ye your children of it, And let your children tell their children, And their children another generation.
4
Thomson—
BrentonThe leavings of the caterpillar has the locust eaten, and the leavings of the locust has the palmerworm eaten, and the leavings of the palmerworm has the cankerworm eaten.
Greekτὰ κατάλοιπα τῆς κάμπης κατέφαγεν ἡ ἀκρίς, καὶ τὰ κατάλοιπα τῆς ἀκρίδος κατέφαγεν ὁ βροῦχος, καὶ τὰ κατάλοιπα τοῦ βρούχου κατέφαγεν ἡ ἐρυσίβη.
KJVThat which the palmerworm hath left hath 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.
JPS—
5
ThomsonAwake ye drunkards, from your wine and weep. Sing a mournful song, all ye who drink wine to drunkenness; for joy and gladness are gone from your mouth.
BrentonAwake, ye drunkards, from your wine, and weep: mourn, all ye that drink wine to drunkenness: for joy and gladness are removed from your mouth.
GreekἘκνήψατε, οἱ μεθύοντες, ἐξ οἴνου αὐτῶν καὶ κλαύσατε· θρηνήσατε πάντες οἱ πίνοντες οἶνον εἰς μέθην, ὅτι ἐξῄρθη ἐκ στόματος ὑμῶν εὐφροσύνη καὶ χαρά.
KJVAwake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the new wine; for it is cut off from your mouth.
JPSAwake, ye drunkards, and weep, And wail, all ye drinkers of wine, Because of the sweet wine, For it is cut off from your mouth.
6
ThomsonFor against my land a nation is come up, strong and innumerable. Their teeth are the teeth of lions; and their grinders, those of a young lion.
BrentonFor a strong and innumerable nation is come up against my land, their teeth are lion's teeth, and their back teeth those of a lion's whelp.
GreekὍτι ἔθνος ἀνέβη ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν μου ἰσχυρὸν καὶ ἀναρίθμητον, οἱ ὀδόντες αὐτοῦ ὀδόντες λέοντος, καὶ αἱ μῦλαι αὐτοῦ σκύμνου·
KJVFor a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number, whose teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion.
JPSFor a people is come up upon my land, Mighty, and without number; His teeth are the teeth of a lion, And he hath the jaw-teeth of a lioness.
7
Thomson—
BrentonHe has ruined my vine, and utterly broken my fig-trees: he has utterly searched my vine, and cast it down; he has peeled its branches.
GreekἜθετο τὴν ἄμπελόν μου εἰς ἀφανισμὸν, καὶ τὰς συκάς μου εἰς συγκλασμόν· ἐρευνῶν ἐξηρεύνησεν αὐτὴν, καὶ ἔῤῥιψεν· ἐλεύκανε τὰ κλήματα αὐτῆς.
KJVHe hath laid my vine waste, and barked my fig tree: he hath made it clean bare, and cast it away; the branches thereof are made white.
JPSHe hath laid my vine waste, And blasted my fig-tree; He hath made it clean bare, and cast it down, The branches thereof are made white.
8
ThomsonLet thy song of woe before me be more plaintive than that of a bride clothed with sackcloth for the husband of her youth.
BrentonLament to me more than a virgin girded with sackcloth for the husband of her youth.
GreekΘρήνησον πρὸς μὲ ὑπὲρ νύμφην περιεζωσμένην σάκκον, ἐπὶ τὸν ἄνδρα αὐτῆς τὸν παρθενικόν.
KJVLament like a virgin girded with sackcloth for the husband of her youth.
JPSLament like a virgin girded with sackcloth For the husband of her youth.
9
ThomsonSacrifice and libation are taken away from the house of the Lord. Mourn, ye priests, who minister at the Lord’s altar, because the fields are wasted.
BrentonThe meat-offering and drink-offering are removed from the house of the Lord: mourn, ye priests that serve at the altar of the Lord.
GreekἘξῇρται θυσία καὶ σπονδὴ ἐξ οἴκου Κυρίου· πενθεῖτε οἱ ἱερεῖς οἱ λειτουργοῦντες θυσιαστηρίῳ Κυρίου,
KJVThe meat offering and the drink offering is cut off from the house of the LORD; the priests, the LORD’s ministers, mourn.
JPSThe meal-offering and the drink-offering is cut off From the house of the LORD; The priests mourn, Even the LORD’S ministers.
10
ThomsonLet the land mourn, because the corn hath suffered grievously. Wine is dried away; oil is diminished; husbandmen are parched up.
BrentonFor the plains languish: let the land mourn, for the corn languishes; the wine is dried up, the oil becomes scarce;
Greekὅτι τεταλαιπώρηκε τὰ πεδία· πενθείτω ἡ γῆ, ὅτι τεταλαιπώρηκεν σῖτος· ἐξηράνθη οἶνος, ὠλιγώθη ἔλαιον·
KJVThe field is wasted, the land mourneth; for the corn is wasted: the new wine is dried up, the oil languisheth.
JPSThe field is wasted, The land mourneth; For the corn is wasted, The new wine is dried up, The oil languisheth.
11
ThomsonMourn, ye farms, for the wheat and barley, because the harvester is perished from the field.
Brentonthe husbandmen are consumed: mourn your property on account of the wheat and barley; for the harvest has perished from off the field.
GreekἘξηράνθησαν γεωργοί· θρηνεῖτε κτήματα ὑπὲρ πυροῦ καὶ κριθῆς, ὅτι ἀπόλωλε τρυγητὸς ἐξ ἀγροῦ·
KJVBe ye ashamed, O ye husbandmen; howl, O ye vinedressers, for the wheat and for the barley; because the harvest of the field is perished.
JPSBe ashamed, O ye husbandmen, Wail, O ye vinedressers, For the wheat and for the barley; Because the harvest of the field is perished.
12
ThomsonThe vines are withered and the fig trees are diminished; peach and palm and citron trees and all the trees of the field are withered. Because the children of men are ashamed of joy,
BrentonThe vine is dried up, and the fig-trees are become few; the pomegranate, and palm-tree, and apple, and all the trees of the field are dried up: for the sons of men have abolished joy.
GreekἩ ἄμπελος ἐξηράνθη, καὶ αἱ συκαῖ ὠλιγώθησαν· ῥοὰ, καὶ φοῖνιξ, καὶ μῆλον, καὶ πάντα τὰ ξύλα τοῦ ἀγροῦ ἐξηράνθησαν, ὅτι ᾔσχυναν χαρὰν οἱ υἱοὶ τῶν ἀνθρώπων.
KJVThe vine is dried up, 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: because joy is withered away from the sons of men.
JPSThe 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 of men.
13
Thomsongird yourselves, ye priests, and lament bitterly. Sing the song of woe, ye who minister at the altar; go in and sleep in sackcloth, ye ministers of God,
BrentonGird yourselves with sackcloth, and lament, ye priests: mourn, ye that serve at the altar: go in, sleep in sackcloths, ye that minister to God: for the meat-offering and drink-offering are withheld from the house of your God.
GreekΠεριζώσασθε καὶ κόπτεσθε οἱ ἱερεῖς· θρηνεῖτε οἱ λειτουργοῦντες θυσιαστηρίῳ· εἰσέλθετε, ὑπνώσατε ἐν σάκκοις λειτουργοῦντες Θεῷ, ὅτι ἀπέσχηκεν ἐξ οἴκου Θεοῦ ὑμῶν θυσία καὶ σπονδή.
KJVGird yourselves, and lament, ye priests: howl, ye ministers of the altar: come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God: for the meat offering and the drink offering is withholden from the house of your God.
JPSGird yourselves, and lament, ye priests, Wail, 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 house of your God.
14
Thomsonbecause sacrifice and libation are withheld from the house of your God. Set apart a fast; proclaim a solemn service; assemble the elders—all the inhabitants of the land, to the house of your God, and cry to the Lord incessantly, Ah me! Ah me! Ah me! for the day.
BrentonSanctify a fast, proclaim a solemn service, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of your God, and cry earnestly to the Lord,
GreekἉγιάσατε νηστείαν, κηρύξατε θεραπείαν, συναγάγετε πρεσβυτέρους, πάντας κατοικοῦντας γῆν εἰς οἶκον Θεοῦ ὑμῶν, καὶ κεκράξετε πρὸς Κύριον ἐκτενῶς,
KJVSanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God, and cry unto the LORD.
JPSSanctify ye a fast, Call a solemn assembly, Gather the elders And all the inhabitants of the land Unto the house of the LORD your God, And cry unto the LORD.
15
ThomsonFor the day of the Lord is at hand; and it will come like destruction on destruction.
BrentonAlas, alas, alas for the day! for the day of the Lord is nigh, and it will come as trouble upon trouble.
GreekΟἴμοι, οἴμοι, οἴμοι εἰς ἡμέραν, ὅτι ἐγγὺς ἡ ἡμέρα Κυρίου, καὶ ὡς ταλαιπωρία ἐκ ταλαιπωρίας ἥξει.
KJVAlas for the day! for the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come.
JPSAlas for the day! For the day of the LORD is at hand, And as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come.
16
ThomsonFood is utterly destroyed before your eyes—joy and gladness, from the house of your God.
BrentonYour meat has been destroyed before your eyes, joy and gladness from out of the house of your God.
GreekΚατέναντι τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν ὑμῶν βρώματα ἐξωλθρεύθη, ἐξ οἴκου Θεοῦ ὑμῶν εὐφροσύνη καὶ χαρά.
KJVIs not the meat cut off before our eyes, yea, joy and gladness from the house of our God?
JPSIs not the food cut off Before our eyes, Yea, joy and gladness From the house of our God?
17
ThomsonThe heifers startled at their stalls. Stores are exhausted; wine lakes are gone to ruin. As the corn is blasted, what shall we substitute for ourselves?
BrentonThe heifers have started at their mangers, the treasures are abolished, the wine-presses are broken down; for the corn is withered.
GreekἘσκίρτησαν δαμάλεις ἐπὶ ταῖς φάτναις αὐτῶν, ἠφανίσθησαν θησαυροὶ, κατεσκάφησαν ληνοὶ, ὅτι ἐξηράνθη σῖτος.
KJVThe seed is rotten under their clods, the garners are laid desolate, the barns are broken down; for the corn is withered.
JPSThe grains shrivel under their hoes; The garners are laid desolate, The barns are broken down; For the corn is withered.
18
ThomsonThe herds of cattle uttered mournful lowings, because there was no pasture for them; and the flocks of sheep are utterly destroyed.
BrentonWhat shall we store up for ourselves? the herds of cattle have mourned, because they had no pasture; and the flocks of sheep have been utterly destroyed.
GreekΤί ἀποθήσομεν ἑαυτοῖς; ἔκλαυσαν βουκόλια βοῶν, ὅτι οὐχ ὑπῆρχε νομὴ αὐτοῖς· καὶ τὰ ποίμνια τῶν προβάτων ἠφανίσθησαν.
KJVHow do the beasts groan! the herds of cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture; yea, the flocks of sheep are made desolate.
JPSHow do the beasts groan! The herds of cattle are perplexed, Because they have no pasture; Yea, the flocks of sheep are made desolate.
19
ThomsonTo Thee, O Lord, let me cry for myself, because a fire hath consumed the pleasant places of the wilderness, and a flame hath blasted all the trees of the field.
BrentonTo thee, O Lord, will I cry: for fire has devoured the fair places of the wilderness, and a flame has burnt up all the trees of the field.
GreekΠρὸς σὲ Κύριε βοήσομαι, ὅτι πῦρ ἀνήλωσε τὰ ὡραῖα τῆς ἐρήμου, καὶ φλὸξ ἀνῆψε πάντα τὰ ξύλα τοῦ ἀγροῦ,
KJVO LORD, to thee will I cry: for the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and the flame hath burned all the trees of the field.
JPSUnto Thee, O LORD, do I cry; For the fire hath devoured The pastures of the wilderness, And the flame hath set ablaze All the trees of the field.
20
ThomsonTo Thee indeed the cattle in the plain have looked up, because the springs of water are quite dry, and a fire hath devoured the pleasant places of the wilderness.
BrentonAnd the cattle of the field have looked up to thee: for the fountains of waters have been dried up, and fire has devoured the fair places of the wilderness.
Greekκαὶ τὰ κτήνη τοῦ πεδίου ἀνέβλεψαν πρὸς σὲ, ὅτι ἐξηράνθησαν ἀφέσεις ὑδάτων, καὶ πῦρ κατέφαγε τὰ ὡραῖα τῆς ἐρήμου.
KJVThe beasts of the field cry also unto thee: for the rivers of waters are dried up, and the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness.
JPSYea, the beasts of the field pant unto Thee; For the water brooks are dried up, And the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness.