OET interlinear YOEL (JOEL) 1:2

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / parallelism

שִׁמְעוּ־זֹאת֙ הַ⁠זְּקֵנִ֔ים וְ⁠הַֽאֲזִ֔ינוּ כֹּ֖ל יוֹשְׁבֵ֣י הָ⁠אָ֑רֶץ

(Some words not found in UHB: hear this(f) O,elders and,give_ear all inhabitants_of the=earth/land has,it_happened? this in,days_of,your(pl) and=if in,the_days_of your(pl)_ancestors_of,your(pl) )

See the discussion in the introduction to Joel of how Hebrew poetry consisted of paired phrases that meant basically the same thing. Decide as a translation team how you will represent this poetry in your translation throughout the book of Joel. Alternate translation: [Hear this, you elders! Yes, listen, all of the dwellers of the land!]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

הֶ⁠הָ֤יְתָה זֹּאת֙ בִּֽ⁠ימֵי⁠כֶ֔ם וְ⁠אִ֖ם בִּ⁠ימֵ֥י אֲבֹֽתֵי⁠כֶֽם

has,it_happened? (Some words not found in UHB: hear this(f) O,elders and,give_ear all inhabitants_of the=earth/land has,it_happened? this in,days_of,your(pl) and=if in,the_days_of your(pl)_ancestors_of,your(pl) )

Joel is using the question form for emphasis. If a speaker of your language would not use the question form for that purpose, you could translate this as a statement or as an exclamation. Alternate translation: [This has not happened in your days or in the days of your fathers!]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

בִּֽ⁠ימֵי⁠כֶ֔ם וְ⁠אִ֖ם בִּ⁠ימֵ֥י

(Some words not found in UHB: hear this(f) O,elders and,give_ear all inhabitants_of the=earth/land has,it_happened? this in,days_of,your(pl) and=if in,the_days_of your(pl)_ancestors_of,your(pl) )

Joel is using the term days to mean a period of time by association with the way days make up longer periods of time. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [in your time or in the time of]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

אֲבֹֽתֵי⁠כֶֽם

your(pl)_ancestors_of,your(pl)

Joel is not referring to the literal fathers of the Israelites whom he is addressing. He is using that term to mean their ancestors. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [your ancestors]