Yoel 1:11-13

1:11 Be distressed, ¹  farmers;

wail, vinedressers, over the wheat and the barley.

For the harvest of the field has perished.

1:12 The vine has dried up;

the fig tree languishes –

the pomegranate, date, and apple ²  as well.

In fact, ³  all the trees of the field have dried up.

Indeed, the joy of the people ⁴  has dried up!

1:13 Get dressed ⁵  and lament, you priests!

Wail, you who minister at the altar!

Come, spend the night in sackcloth, you servants of my God,

because no one brings grain offerings or drink offerings

to the temple of your God anymore. ⁶ 

[1:11]  ¹ tn Heb “embarrassed”; or “be ashamed.”

[1:12]  ² tn This Hebrew word וְתַפּוּחַ (vÿtappuakh) probably refers to the apple tree (so most English versions), but other suggestions that scholars have offered include the apricot, citron, or quince.

[1:12]  ³ tn These words are not in the Hebrew text but are supplied in the translation for clarity.

[1:12]  ⁴ tn Heb “the sons of man.”

[1:13]  ⁵ tn Heb “put on.” There is no object present in the Hebrew text, but many translations assume “sackcloth” to be the understood object of the verb “put on.” Its absence in the Hebrew text of v. 13 is probably due to metrical considerations. The meter here is 3 + 3, and that has probably influenced the prophet’s choice of words.

[1:13]  ⁶ tn Heb “for grain offering and drink offering are withheld from the house of your God.”