Yoel 1:12

1:12 The vine has dried up;

the fig tree languishes –

the pomegranate, date, and apple ¹  as well.

In fact, ²  all the trees of the field have dried up.

Indeed, the joy of the people ³  has dried up!

Yoel 1:16

1:16 Our food has been cut off right before our eyes! ⁴ 

There is no longer any joy or gladness in the temple of our God! ⁵ 

Yoel 2:13

2:13 Return to the Lord your God,

for he is merciful and compassionate,

slow to anger and boundless in loyal love ⁶  – often relenting from calamitous punishment. ⁷ 

Yoel 2:23

2:23 Citizens of Zion, ⁸  rejoice!

Be glad because of what the Lord your God has done! ⁹ 

For he has given to you the early rains ¹⁰  as vindication.

He has sent ¹¹  to you the rains –

both the early and the late rains ¹²  as formerly.

[1:12]  ¹ 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]  ² tn These words are not in the Hebrew text but are supplied in the translation for clarity.

[1:12]  ³ tn Heb “the sons of man.”

[1:16]  ⁴ tn Heb “Has not the food been cut off right before our eyes?” This rhetorical question expects an affirmative answer; the question has been translated as an affirmation for the sake of clarity and emphasis.

[1:16]  ⁵ tn Heb “joy and gladness from the house of our God?” Verse 16b is a continuation of the rhetorical question begun in v. 16a, but has been translated as an affirmative statement to make the meaning clear. The words “There is no longer any” are not in the Hebrew text, but have been supplied in the translation for clarity.

[2:13]  ⁶ tn Heb “and great of loyal love.”

[2:13]  ⁷ tn Heb “and he relents from calamity.”

[2:23]  ⁸ tn Heb “sons of Zion.”

[2:23]  ⁹ tn Heb “be glad in the Lord your God.”

[2:23]  ¹⁰ tn Normally the Hebrew word הַמּוֹרֶה (hammoreh) means “the teacher,” but here and in Ps 84:7 it refers to “early rains.” Elsewhere the word for “early rains” is יוֹרֶה (yoreh). The phrase here הַמּוֹרֶה לִצְדָקָה (hammoreh litsdaqah) is similar to the expression “teacher of righteousness” (Heb., מוֹרֶה הַצֶּדֶק , moreh hatsedeq) found in the Dead Sea Scrolls referring to a particular charismatic leader, although the Qumran community seems not to have invoked this text in support of that notion.

[2:23]  ¹¹ tn Heb “caused to come down.”

[2:23]  ¹² sn For half the year Palestine is generally dry. The rainy season begins with the early rains usually in late October to early December, followed by the latter rains in March and April. Without these rains productive farming would not be possible, as Joel’s original readers knew only too well.