YouVersion Logo
Search Icon

Joel 2:20-21 - Compare All Versions

Joel 2:20-21 NIV (New International Version)

“I will drive the northern horde far from you, pushing it into a parched and barren land; its eastern ranks will drown in the Dead Sea and its western ranks in the Mediterranean Sea. And its stench will go up; its smell will rise.” Surely he has done great things! Do not be afraid, land of Judah; be glad and rejoice. Surely the LORD has done great things!

Joel 2:20-21 ESV (English Standard Version 2025)

“I will remove the northerner far from you, and drive him into a parched and desolate land, his vanguard into the eastern sea, and his rear guard into the western sea; the stench and foul smell of him will rise, for he has done great things. “Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice, for the LORD has done great things!

Joel 2:20-21 NLT (New Living Translation)

I will drive away these armies from the north. I will send them into the parched wastelands. Those in the front will be driven into the Dead Sea, and those at the rear into the Mediterranean. The stench of their rotting bodies will rise over the land.” Surely the LORD has done great things! Don’t be afraid, O land. Be glad now and rejoice, for the LORD has done great things.

Joel 2:20-21 CSB (Christian Standard Bible)

I will drive the northerner far from you  and banish him to a dry and desolate land, his front ranks into the Dead Sea,  and his rear guard into the Mediterranean Sea.  His stench will rise; yes, his rotten smell will rise,  for he has done astonishing things. Don’t be afraid, land;  rejoice and be glad, for the LORD has done astonishing things.

Joel 2:20-21 KJV (King James Version)

but I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things. Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things.

Joel 2:20-21 NKJV (New King James Version)

“But I will remove far from you the northern army, And will drive him away into a barren and desolate land, With his face toward the eastern sea And his back toward the western sea; His stench will come up, And his foul odor will rise, Because he has done monstrous things.” Fear not, O land; Be glad and rejoice, For the LORD has done marvelous things!

Joel 2:18-24 MSG (The Message)

At that, GOD went into action to get his land back. He took pity on his people. GOD answered and spoke to his people, “Look, listen—I’m sending a gift: Grain and wine and olive oil. The fast is over—eat your fill! I won’t expose you any longer to contempt among the pagans. I’ll head off the final enemy coming out of the north and dump them in a wasteland. Half of them will end up in the Dead Sea, the other half in the Mediterranean. There they’ll rot, a stench to high heaven. The bigger the enemy, the stronger the stench!” Fear not, Earth! Be glad and celebrate! GOD has done great things. Fear not, wild animals! The fields and meadows are greening up. The trees are bearing fruit again: a bumper crop of fig trees and vines! Children of Zion, celebrate! Be glad in your GOD. He’s giving you a teacher to train you how to live right— Teaching, like rain out of heaven, showers of words to refresh and nourish your soul, just as he used to do. And plenty of food for your body—silos full of grain, casks of wine and barrels of olive oil. * * *

Joel 2:20-21 NASB2020 (New American Standard Bible - NASB)

“But I will remove the northern army far from you, And I will drive it into a dry and desolate land, Its advance guard into the eastern sea, And its rear guard into the western sea. And its stench will ascend and its odor of decay will come up, Because it has done great things.” ¶Do not fear, land; shout for joy and rejoice, For the LORD has done great things.

Joel 2:20-21 AMP (Amplified Bible)

“But I will remove the northern army far away from you, And I will drive it into a parched and desolate land, With its forward guard into the eastern sea (Dead Sea) And with its rear guard into the western sea (Mediterranean Sea). And its stench will arise and its foul odor of decay will come up [this is the fate of the northern army in the final day of the LORD], For He has done great things.” [Is 34:1-4, 8; Amos 4:10] ¶Do not fear, O land; be glad and rejoice, For the LORD has done great things! [Zech 12:8-10]

Joel 2:20-21 NET (New English Translation)

I will remove the one from the north far from you. I will drive him out to a dry and desolate place. Those in front will be driven eastward into the Dead Sea, and those in back westward into the Mediterranean Sea. His stench will rise up as a foul smell.” Indeed, the LORD has accomplished great things. Do not fear, my land! Rejoice and be glad, because the LORD has accomplished great things!