Zefanya 2:15

2:15 This is how the once-proud city will end up ¹  –

the city that was so secure. ² 

She thought to herself, ³  “I am unique! No one can compare to me!” ⁴ 

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

Everyone who passes by her taunts her ⁵  and shakes his fist. ⁶ 

Zefanya 3:8

3:8 Therefore you must wait patiently ⁷  for me,” says the Lord,

“for the day when I attack and take plunder. ⁸ 

I have decided ⁹  to gather nations together

and assemble kingdoms,

so I can pour out my fury on them –

all my raging anger.

For ¹⁰  the whole earth will be consumed

by my fiery anger.

Zefanya 3:19

3:19 Look, at that time I will deal with those who mistreated you.

I will rescue the lame sheep ¹¹ 

and gather together the scattered sheep.

I will take away their humiliation

and make the whole earth admire and respect them. ¹² 

[2:15]  ¹ tn Heb “this is the proud city.”

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

[2:15]  ³ tn Heb “the one who says in her heart.”

[2:15]  ⁴ tn Heb “I [am], and besides me there is no other.”

[2:15]  ⁵ tn Heb “hisses”; or “whistles.”

[2:15]  ⁶ 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.

[3:8]  ⁷ tn The second person verb form (“you must wait patiently”) is masculine plural, indicating that a group is being addressed. Perhaps the humble individuals addressed earlier (see 2:3) are in view. Because of Jerusalem’s sin, they must patiently wait for judgment to pass before their vindication arrives.

[3:8]  ⁸ tn Heb “when I arise for plunder.” The present translation takes עַד (’ad) as “plunder.” Some, following the LXX, repoint the term עֵד (’ed) and translate, “as a witness” (cf. NASB, NIV, NRSV). In this case the Lord uses a legal metaphor to picture himself as testifying against his enemies. Adele Berlin takes לְעַד (lÿ’ad) in a temporal sense (“forever”) and translates “once and for all” (Zephaniah [AB 25A], 133).

[3:8]  ⁹ tn Heb “for my decision is.”

[3:8]  ¹⁰ tn Or “certainly.”

[3:19]  ¹¹ tn The word “sheep” is supplied for clarification. As in Mic 4:6-7, the exiles are here pictured as injured and scattered sheep whom the divine shepherd rescues from danger.

[3:19]  ¹² tn Heb “I will make them into praise and a name, in all the earth, their shame.” The present translation assumes that “their shame” specifies “them” and that “name” stands here for a good reputation.