2:2 before God’s decree becomes reality 1 and the day of opportunity disappears like windblown chaff, 2
before the Lord’s raging anger 3 overtakes 4 you –
before the day of the Lord’s angry judgment overtakes you!
3:13 The Israelites who remain 5 will not act deceitfully.
They will not lie,
and a deceitful tongue will not be found in their mouth.
Indeed, they will graze peacefully like sheep 6 and lie down;
no one will terrify them.”
1 tn Heb “before the giving birth of a decree.” For various alternative readings, see J. J. M. Roberts, Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah (OTL), 187-88.
2 tn The second half of the line reads literally, “like chaff it passes by a day.” The translation above assumes the “day” is the brief time God is giving the nation to repent. The comparison of this quickly passing opportunity to chaff is consistent with the straw imagery of v. 1.
3 tn Heb “the fury of the anger of the
4 tn Heb “comes upon.” This phrase occurs twice in this verse.
5 tn Or “the remnant of Israel.”
6 tn The words “peacefully like sheep” are supplied in the translation for clarification.