Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests: howl, ye ministers of the altar: come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God: for the meat offering and the drink offering is withholden from the house of your God.
Gird yourselves - namely, with sackcloth; as in Isaiah 32:11, the ellipsis is supplied (cf. Jeremiah 4:8).
Lament, ye priests - as it is your duty to set the example to others; also as the guilt was greater, and a greater scandal was occasioned, by your sin, to the cause of God.
Come. The Septuagint, 'enter' the house of God (cf. Joel 1:14).
Lie all night in sackcloth - so Ahab (1 Kings 21:27).
Ye ministers of my God - (1 Corinthians 9:13). Joel claims authority for his doctrine. It is in God's name and by His mission I speak to you.