Joel 2:17

¹⁵ Blow the ram’s horn in Zion, consecrate a fast, proclaim a sacred assembly.

¹⁶ Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the aged, gather the children, even those nursing at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber.

Let the priests who minister before the LORD weep between the portico and the altar, saying, “Spare Your people, O LORD, and do not make Your heritage a reproach, an object of scorn among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’”

¹⁸ Then the LORD became jealous for His land, and He spared His people.

¹⁹ And the LORD answered His people: “Behold, I will send you grain, new wine, and oil, and by them you will be satisfied. I will never again make you a reproach among the nations.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: Let the priests who minister before the LORD weep between the portico and the altar, saying, “Spare Your people, O LORD, and do not make Your heritage a reproach, an object of scorn among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’”
KJV: 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 heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?
WEB: Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, “Spare your people, LORD, and don’t give your heritage to reproach, that the nations should rule over them. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’”
ASV: Let the priests, the ministers of Jehovah, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Jehovah, and give not thy heritage to reproach, that the nations should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the peoples, Where is their God?
DARBY: Let the priests, the ministers of Jehovah, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare, O Jehovah, thy people, and give not thine inheritance to reproach, that they should be a byword of the nations. Wherefore should they say among the peoples, Where is their God?
BLB: Between the porch and the altar, let the priests weep, those ministering to YHWH, and let them say, “Have pity, O YHWH, on Your people, and do not give Your heritage to reproach for the ruling over them [by] the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where [is] their God?’”

ÅB: Mellom forhallen og alteret skal prestene, Herrens tjenere, stå gråtende og si: Spar, Herre, ditt folk, og overgi ikke din arv til vanære, så hedninger får råde over den! Hvorfor skal de si blant folkene: Hvor er deres Gud?
OTB: La prestene, som tjener foran Herren,
gråte mellom forhallen og alteret.
La dem si,
“Spare ditt folk, Herre.
Gjør ikke din arv til en skam,
et ordtak blant nasjonene.
Hvorfor skulle de si blant folkene,
‘Hvor er deres Gud?’”
B1930: Mellem forhallen og alteret skal prestene, Herrens tjenere, stå gråtende og si: Spar, Herre, ditt folk, og overgi ikke din arv til vanære, så hedninger får råde over den! Hvorfor skal de si blandt folkene: Hvor er deres Gud?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Psalms 115:2
Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?”
Read in context
Psalms 79:10
Why should the nations ask, “Where is their God?” Before our eyes, make known among the nations Your vengeance for the bloodshed of Your servants.
Read in context
Ezekiel 8:16
So He brought me to the inner court of the house of the LORD, and there at the entrance to the temple of the LORD, between the portico and the altar, were about twenty-five men with their backs to the temple of the LORD and their faces toward the east; and they were bowing to the east in worship of the sun.
Read in context
Hosea 14:2
Bring your confessions and return to the LORD. Say to Him: “Take away all our iniquity and receive us graciously, that we may present the fruit of our lips.
Read in context
Exodus 34:9
“O Lord,” he said, “if I have indeed found favor in Your sight, my Lord, please go with us. Although this is a stiff-necked people, forgive our iniquity and sin, and take us as Your inheritance.”
Read in context
Daniel 9:18–19
Incline Your ear, O my God, and hear; open Your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears Your name. For we are not presenting our petitions before You because of our righteous acts, but because of Your great compassion.
Read in context
Joel 1:9
Grain and drink offerings have been cut off from the house of the LORD; the priests are in mourning, those who minister before the LORD.
Read in context
Amos 7:2
And when the locusts had eaten every green plant in the land, I said, “Lord GOD, please forgive! How will Jacob survive, since he is so small?”
Read in context