Zefanya 1:12

1:12 At that time I will search through Jerusalem with lamps.

I will punish the people who are entrenched in their sin, ¹ 

those who think to themselves, ² 

‘The Lord neither rewards nor punishes.’ ³ 

Zefanya 3:5

3:5 The just Lord resides ⁴  within her;

he commits no unjust acts. ⁵ 

Every morning he reveals ⁶  his justice.

At dawn he appears without fail. ⁷ 

Yet the unjust know no shame.

[1:12]  ¹ tn Heb “who thicken on their sediment.” The imagery comes from wine making, where the wine, if allowed to remain on the sediment too long, will thicken into syrup. The image suggests that the people described here were complacent in their sinful behavior and interpreted the delay in judgment as divine apathy.

[1:12]  ² tn Heb “who say in their hearts.”

[1:12]  ³ tn Heb “The Lord does not do good nor does he do evil.”

[3:5]  ⁴ tn The word “resides” is supplied for clarification.

[3:5]  ⁵ tn Or “he does no injustice.”

[3:5]  ⁶ tn Heb “gives”; or “dispenses.”

[3:5]  ⁷ tn Heb “at the light he is not missing.” Note that NASB (which capitalizes pronouns referring to Deity) has divided the lines differently: “Every morning He brings His justice to light; // He does not fail.”