Section 1:13–20

God’s people must turn to him for help

1:13a Put on sackcloth and lament, O priests;

You (plur.) priests, wear your funeral clothes and mourn.
-or-
You (plur.) who work/sacrifice in the temple, you should dress in your mourning clothes. It is time to grieve!
-or-
Religious leaders, put (plur.) on black/gloomy clothes and weep.

1:13b wail, O ministers of the altar.

Cry (plur.) aloud, you who serve at the altar.
-or-
You (plur.) who offer sacrifices on the altar, start weeping loudly!
-or-
Cry (plur.) out loud, you who offer sacrifices ⌊to God⌋ .

1:13c Come, spend the night in sackcloth,

Come (plur.) ! Pass the night dressed in sackcloth/mourning,
-or-
Come/Go (plur.) ⌊to the temple⌋ , and lie there all night wearing clothes that show grief/mourning,
-or-
Enter (plur.) ⌊his house/temple⌋ and stay there all night, grieving,

1:13d O ministers of my God,

you (plur.) who serve my God,
-or-
you (plur.) servants of my God,
-or-
you ⌊priests/sacrificers⌋ who work in ⌊the house/temple⌋ of the God I worship.

1:13e because the grain and drink offerings are withheld from the house of your God.

because the temple of your (plur.) God is no longer receiving offerings of grain or offerings of wine.
-or-
because grain and wine are no longer being offered to your (plur.) God in his house.
-or-
People are no longer bringing offerings of food or wine to the house of your (plur.) God.

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