Zephaniah 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 ¹  will be consumed by his fiery wrath. ² 

Indeed, ³  he will bring terrifying destruction ⁴  on all who live on the earth.” ⁵ 

Zephaniah 2:3

2:3 Seek the Lord’s favor, ⁶  all you humble people ⁷  of the land who have obeyed his commands! ⁸ 

Strive to do what is right! ⁹  Strive to be humble! ¹⁰ 

Maybe you will be protected ¹¹  on the day of the Lord’s angry judgment.

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

² tn Or “passion”; traditionally, “jealousy.”

³ tn Or “for.”

⁴ tn Heb “complete destruction, even terror, he will make.”

⁵ 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).

⁶ tn Heb “seek the Lord,” but “favor” seems to be implied from the final line of the verse.

⁷ 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.

⁸ 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.”

⁹ tn Heb “Seek what is right.”

¹⁰ tn Heb “Seek humility.”

¹¹ tn Heb “hidden.” Cf. NEB “it may be that you will find shelter”; NRSV “perhaps you may be hidden.”