Zefanya 1:6

1:6 and those who turn their backs on ¹  the Lord

and do not want the Lord’s help or guidance.” ² 

Zefanya 1:18

1:18 Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to deliver them

in the day of the Lord’s angry judgment.

The whole earth ³  will be consumed by his fiery wrath. ⁴ 

Indeed, ⁵  he will bring terrifying destruction ⁶  on all who live on the earth.” ⁷ 

Zefanya 2:3

2:3 Seek the Lord’s favor, ⁸  all you humble people ⁹  of the land who have obeyed his commands! ¹⁰ 

Strive to do what is right! ¹¹  Strive to be humble! ¹² 

Maybe you will be protected ¹³  on the day of the Lord’s angry judgment.

Zefanya 2:15

2:15 This is how the once-proud city will end up ¹⁴  –

the city that was so secure. ¹⁵ 

She thought to herself, ¹⁶  “I am unique! No one can compare to me!” ¹⁷ 

What a heap of ruins she has become, a place where wild animals live!

Everyone who passes by her taunts her ¹⁸  and shakes his fist. ¹⁹ 

[1:6]  ¹ tn Heb “turn back from [following] after.”

[1:6]  ² tn Heb “who do not seek the Lord and do not inquire of him.” The present translation assumes the first verb refers to praying for divine help and the second to seeking his revealed will through an oracle. Note the usage of the two verbs in 2 Chr 20:3-4.

[1:18]  ³ tn Or “land” (cf. NEB). This same word also occurs at the end of the present verse.

[1:18]  ⁴ tn Or “passion”; traditionally, “jealousy.”

[1:18]  ⁵ tn Or “for.”

[1:18]  ⁶ tn Heb “complete destruction, even terror, he will make.”

[1:18]  ⁷ tn It is not certain where the Lord’s words end and the prophet’s words begin. It is possible that Zephaniah begins speaking in the middle of v. 17 or at the beginning of v. 18 (note the third person pronouns referring to the Lord).

[2:3]  ⁸ tn Heb “seek the Lord,” but “favor” seems to be implied from the final line of the verse.

[2:3]  ⁹ tn Or “poor.” The precise referent of this Hebrew term is unclear. The word may refer to the economically poor or to the spiritually humble.

[2:3]  ¹⁰ tn The present translation assumes the Hebrew term מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat) here refers to God’s covenantal requirements and is a synonym for the Law. The word can mean “justice” and could refer more specifically to the principles of justice contained in the Law. In this case the phrase could be translated, “who have promoted the justice God demands.”

[2:3]  ¹¹ tn Heb “Seek what is right.”

[2:3]  ¹² tn Heb “Seek humility.”

[2:3]  ¹³ tn Heb “hidden.” Cf. NEB “it may be that you will find shelter”; NRSV “perhaps you may be hidden.”

[2:15]  ¹⁴ tn Heb “this is the proud city.”

[2:15]  ¹⁵ tn Heb “the one that lived securely.”

[2:15]  ¹⁶ tn Heb “the one who says in her heart.”

[2:15]  ¹⁷ tn Heb “I [am], and besides me there is no other.”

[2:15]  ¹⁸ tn Heb “hisses”; or “whistles.”

[2:15]  ¹⁹ sn Hissing (or whistling) and shaking the fist were apparently ways of taunting a defeated foe or an object of derision in the culture of the time.