Zefanya 3:5

3:5 The just Lord resides ¹  within her;

he commits no unjust acts. ² 

Every morning he reveals ³  his justice.

At dawn he appears without fail. ⁴ 

Yet the unjust know no shame.

Zefanya 3:8

3:8 Therefore you must wait patiently ⁵  for me,” says the Lord,

“for the day when I attack and take plunder. ⁶ 

I have decided ⁷  to gather nations together

and assemble kingdoms,

so I can pour out my fury on them –

all my raging anger.

For ⁸  the whole earth will be consumed

by my fiery anger.

[3:5]  ¹ tn The word “resides” is supplied for clarification.

[3:5]  ² tn Or “he does no injustice.”

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

[3:5]  ⁴ 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.”

[3:8]  ⁵ 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]  ⁶ 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]  ⁷ tn Heb “for my decision is.”

[3:8]  ⁸ tn Or “certainly.”