You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied: In Hebrew this verse begins literally with the connector “And” since it gives additional information. Good News Translation begins with the word “Now” to make the contrast with the former condition explicit (compare 1.16-18). You shall eat in plenty is literally “eating you will eat,” which is an emphatic expression. In English it is better rendered “you will have plenty to eat” (Good News Translation). Be satisfied renders the same Hebrew verb as the one in verse 19 (see the comments there).
And praise the name of the LORD your God: The Hebrew verb for praise involves saying good things about someone because of what that person has done. When God is praised, it is frequently done by singing, often using instruments. To praise the name of the LORD is really to “praise the LORD” (Good News Translation) directly, for the name of someone in Hebrew means the person himself or herself. Since Yahweh himself is speaking here, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch renders this line as “Then you will praise me, your God.” Other possible models are “and you will praise me, Yahweh your God” and “… praise me, who am Yahweh your God.”
Who has dealt wondrously with you means that Yahweh has performed great things, miracles, things difficult to explain. This statement may include sending the locusts, but in this context it seems to refer chiefly to Yahweh’s marvelous manner of restoring Judah. It may be necessary to render this line in the first person, as in Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch: “because I have done such wonders for you.”
And my people shall never again be put to shame: My people emphasizes the restored relationship between God and the people of Judah. Since God is addressing his people here, this may be rendered “you, who are my people.” The Hebrew verb for be put to shame is the same one rendered “Be confounded” in 1.11, and a contrast with that verse seems to be intended here. In many cultures today, crop failure is a cause for feeling embarrassed. It was especially true when people would boast of the help their God provided when he blessed their crops, and so crop failure would increase the embarrassment. God assures his people here that such embarrassment will not occur again. This line is repeated at the end of verse 27, almost like a refrain, so the concern over shame must have been important. Good News Translation says “My people will never be despised again,” which focuses on the action of despising rather than on the shame or embarrassment of those despised. In many languages it will be better to emphasize the embarrassment.
Quoted with permission from de Blois, Kees & Dorn, Louis. A Handbook on Joel. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2020. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .