SIL Translator’s Notes on Joel 2020

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joel 1:10

1:10a The field is ruined;

The farmland is destroyed,
-or-
The fields/meadows are useless/worthless ⌊for growing grain⌋ ,

1:10b the land mourns.

the ground is sad/mourning.
-or-

⌊for⌋ the soil is hard and dry.

1:10c For the grain is destroyed,

For the grain is ruined,
-or-
There will be no grain harvest,

1:10d the new wine is dried up,

and the supply of wine has come to an end.
-or-
and no one will be able to make wine.

1:10e and the oil fails.

No one is making/selling olive oil.
-or-
There is no more olive oil ⌊to be found/bought⌋ .

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Joel 2:22

2:22a Do not be afraid, O beasts of the field,

Animals of the fields, do (plur.) not fear,
-or-
You (plur.) need not worry about/for the wild animals,

2:22b for the open pastures have turned green,

because the meadows/pastures in the open/wild country have become green.
-or-
because the grass has grown again in the countryside.

2:22c the trees bear their fruit,

There is fruit on the trees again.
-or-
The trees have grown fruit once more.

2:22d and the fig tree and vine yield their best.

The fig tree and the grape vine are giving/growing abundant fruit.
-or-
The fig tree and the grape vine have produced a full/plentiful harvest.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joel 2:1

Section 2:1–11

Locusts invade like an army

2:1a Blow the ram’s horn in Zion;

Blow (plur.) a trumpet in Zion!
-or-
⌊Yahweh says,⌋ “Let/Make (plur.) the ram’s horn blare/blast in ⌊the city of⌋ Zion!
-or-
Make/Cause (plur.) the alarm to ring/sound out in Jerusalem!

2:1b sound the alarm on My holy mountain!

Raise (plur.) the alarm on my sacred hill!
-or-
Signal (plur.) to ⌊the residents/inhabitants of⌋ my holy hill ⌊that danger is near⌋ !”
-or-
Warn (plur.) ⌊the people who live⌋ ⌊there⌋ , on God’s holy mountain!

2:1c Let all who dwell in the land tremble,

Let all the people who live in the land shake ⌊from/in fear⌋ ,
-or-
Shiver ⌊with fear⌋ , you (plur.) people who live in the land ⌊of Judah⌋ !
-or-

⌊Be afraid and⌋ shudder, all you (plur.) who live in Judah!

2:1d for the Day of the LORD is coming;

because the day of Yahweh is near.
-or-
Yahweh’s day ⌊of judgment⌋ is getting close.
-or-
The day when Yahweh ⌊will judge⌋ ⌊you (plur.) ⌋ is quickly approaching.

2:1e indeed, it is near—

It is almost here,
-or-
Yes, that day is about to arrive/dawn,
-or-
He will ⌊punish⌋ ⌊you (plur.) ⌋ very soon!

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joel 3:1

Section 3:1–17

Yahweh will punish the enemies of his people

3:1a “Yes, in those days and at that time,

⌊Yahweh says,⌋ “For indeed, during those days, at that time,
-or-
⌊Yahweh said:⌋ “At that very time,

3:1b when I restore Judah and Jerusalem from captivity,

when I cause Judah and Jerusalem to prosper/thrive again,
-or-
I will make ⌊the people of⌋ Jerusalem ⌊city⌋ and ⌊the rest of⌋ Judah receive/enjoy peace and prosperity again.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joel 2:12

Section 2:12–17

Yahweh invited his people to repent

2:12a “Yet even now,” declares the LORD,

Yahweh says, “It is not too late.
-or-
Yahweh says, “There is still time!

2:12b “return to Me with all your heart,

Come (plur.) back to me with a true/sincere heart.
-or-
So dedicate (plur.) yourselves to me completely!

2:12c with fasting, weeping, and mourning.”

Fast, cry, and grieve ⌊because of your (plur.) sins⌋ .”
-or-
Cry and mourn and stop eating ⌊to show you (plur.) repent⌋ !”

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joel 3:12

3:12a Let the nations be roused

⌊Yahweh says,⌋ “Arouse/Awaken (plur.) the ⌊people/men of⌋ the nations!
-or-
⌊Yahweh said/replied,⌋ “⌊All the men⌋ ⌊from foreign⌋ nations must prepare themselves

3:12b and advance to the Valley of Jehoshaphat,

Make/Cause (plur.) them to enter the Valley of Jehoshaphat!
-or-
and come to Jehoshaphat Valley ⌊to fight⌋ .

3:12c for there I will sit down to judge all the nations on every side.

For there I will take the judge’s seat/place and judge the people from all the surrounding countries.
-or-
For in that place I, ⌊Yahweh⌋ will act as judge and punish all the nations around ⌊Judah⌋ .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joel 1:11

1:11a Be dismayed, O farmers,

Be ashamed, you (plur.) farmers!
-or-
There will be no ⌊harvest⌋ for the farmers to boast about,

1:11b wail, O vinedressers,

Mourn, you (plur.) who grow the vines!
-or-
and no ⌊grapes⌋ to bring joy to those who tend the grapevines.

1:11c over the wheat and barley,

Weep (plur.) for the wheat and barley,
-or-
Mourn (plur.) over the harvest of wheat and barley,
-or-
So wail (plur.) over ⌊the failed⌋ crops!

1:11d because the harvest of the field has perished.

because the crops are completely ruined/gone.
-or-
for it has failed. There is no grain ⌊for you (plur.) to eat/sell⌋ .
-or-

⌊The locusts⌋ have destroyed all the produce of the fields.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joel 2:23

2:23a Be glad, O children of Zion,

People of Zion, you (plur.) be (plur.) happy
-or-
Be (plur.) happy, you (plur.) who live in Jerusalem!

2:23b and rejoice in the LORD your God,

and rejoice (plur.) in Yahweh your (plur.) God.
-or-
Celebrate (plur.) ⌊because of all that⌋ Yahweh your (plur.) God ⌊has done for you (plur.) ⌋ !

2:23c for He has given you the autumn rains

⌊Be glad that⌋ he has sent the early rains to you (plur.),
-or-
He has sent the first rain of the season to you (plur.)

2:23d for your vindication.

because he is righteous/faithful ⌊to keep his word/promises⌋ .
-or-
because he always does as he promises.

2:23c–d (reordered)

He is faithful ⌊to keep his word/promises⌋ , so he has sent the autumn rains to you (plur.).
-or-
Because he always does as he promises, he has sent the early rains to you (plur.).

2:23e He sends you showers,

He has given/sent plentiful rain for you (plur.),
-or-
He causes enough rain to fall on your ⌊fields⌋ ,

2:23f both autumn and spring rains, as before.

the early rain and the later rain, as ⌊he did⌋ in the past.
-or-
both at the beginning and the end of the rainy season. This is just what he used to do ⌊for you⌋ .

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Joel 2020