54 Heb “how the cattle groan!”
55 Heb “the herds of cattle are confused.” The verb בּוּךְ (bukh, “be confused”) sometimes refers to wandering aimlessly in confusion (cf. Exod 14:3).
56 The phrase “for help” does not appear in the Hebrew, but is supplied in the translation for the sake of clarity.
57 Fire here and in v. 20 is probably not to be understood in a literal sense. The locust plague, accompanied by conditions of extreme drought, has left the countryside looking as though everything has been burned up (so also in Joel 2:3).
58 Heb “consumed.” This entire line is restated at the end of v. 20.
59 Heb “the pastures of the wilderness.”
60 Heb “a flame has set ablaze.” This fire was one of the effects of the drought.
61 Heb “beasts of the field.”
62 Heb “long for you.” Animals of course do not have religious sensibilities as such; they do not in any literal sense long for Yahweh. Rather, the language here is figurative (metonymy of cause for effect). The animals long for food and water (so 788 עָרַג), the ultimate source of which is Yahweh.
63 Heb “sources of water.”
64 Heb “consumed.”
65 Heb “the pastures of the wilderness.”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

How the beasts groan!

The herds of cattle are perplexed

because there is no pasture for them;

even the flocks of sheep suffer.

To you, O Lord, I call.

For fire has devoured

the pastures of the wilderness,

and flame has burned

all the trees of the field.

Even the beasts of the field pant for you

because the water brooks are dried up,

and fire has devoured

the pastures of the wilderness.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

How the cattle moan!

The herds mill about

because they have no pasture;

even the flocks of sheep are suffering.

To you, Lord, I call,

for fire has devoured the pastures in the wilderness

and flames have burned up all the trees of the field.

Even the wild animals pant for you;

the streams of water have dried up

and fire has devoured the pastures in the wilderness.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

How the animals groan!

The herds of cattle wander in confusion

since they have no pasture.

Even the flocks of sheep and goats suffer punishment.

I call to you, Lord,

for fire has consumed

the pastures of the wilderness,

and flames have devoured

all the trees of the orchard.

Even the wild animals cry out to you,

for the river beds are dried up,

and fire has consumed

the pastures of the wilderness.

NLTNew Living Translation

How the animals moan with hunger!

The herds of cattle wander about confused,

because they have no pasture.

The flocks of sheep and goats bleat in misery.

Lord, help us!

The fire has consumed the wilderness pastures,

and flames have burned up all the trees.

Even the wild animals cry out to you

because the streams have dried up,

and fire has consumed the wilderness pastures.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

How the beasts groan;

the herds of cattle wander around

because there is no pasture for them;

the flocks of sheep are in distress.

To you, O Yahweh, I cry out,

because fire has devoured

the pastures of the desert,

and flames burned

all the trees of the field.

Also, the beasts of the field

long for you,

because the courses of water

are dried up,

and fire has devoured

the pastures of the desert.

KJV 1900King James Version

How do the beasts groan!

The herds of cattle are perplexed,

Because they have no pasture;

Yea, the flocks of sheep are made desolate.

O Lord, to thee will I cry:

For the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness,

And the flame hath burned all the trees of the field.

The beasts of the field cry also unto thee:

For the rivers of waters are dried up,

And the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness.

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