Zephaniah 3
1 Terrible things will [also] happen [to Jerusalem], that city whose people have rebelled [against Yahweh] and who have become unacceptable to him [because of the sins that they have committed]. [They act violently toward others] and they (oppress/treat cruelly) [other people].
vae provocatrix et redempta civitas columba
2 [The people there] do not pay attention to people who tell them [the wrong things that they are doing] and [try to] (correct them/cause them to quit doing those things). [The people in Jerusalem] do not trust in Yahweh or draw near to ask help from their God.
non audivit vocem et non suscepit disciplinam in Domino non est confisa ad Deum suum non adpropiavit
3 Their leaders are [like] [MET] roaring lions; they are [like] [MET] wolves that [attack other animals] during the evening, [and eat everything that they kill], with the result that the next morning there is nothing left [of those animals to eat].
principes eius in medio eius quasi leones rugientes iudices eius lupi vespere non relinquebant in mane
4 The prophets in Jerusalem are proud, [and they give messages that are] not to be trusted. Their priests cause the temple to be unholy by doing things that are opposed to the laws [of Moses].
prophetae eius vesani viri infideles sacerdotes eius polluerunt sanctum iniuste egerunt contra legem
5 But Yahweh is [also] in the city; and he never does what is wrong. He treats people justly/fairly; he does that every day, but wicked people are never ashamed [about their doing what is wrong].
Dominus iustus in medio eius non faciet iniquitatem mane mane iudicium suum dabit in luce et non abscondetur nescivit autem iniquus confusionem
6 [Yahweh says this]: “I have destroyed [many] nations; I have destroyed their strong/high city walls and towers. [Now] I have caused the streets in those cities to be completely deserted [DOU]; the cities are ruined. There are no people [still alive] in the cities; they are all dead [LIT].
disperdi gentes et dissipati sunt anguli earum desertas feci vias eorum dum non est qui transeat desolatae sunt civitates eorum non remanente viro nec ullo habitatore
7 [So] I thought [to myself], ‘[Because of what I have done to those other nations], surely the people [of Jerusalem] will revere me [now], and they will accept (my correcting them/my telling them to quit doing what is wrong). [If they do that, I] will not destroy their houses; I will not punish them like I said that I would do.’ But [in spite of knowing how I punished those other nations], they were still eager to get up early each morning and continue to do evil things.
dixi attamen timebis me suscipies disciplinam et non peribit habitaculum eius propter omnia in quibus visitavi eam verumtamen diluculo surgentes corruperunt omnes cogitationes suas
8 Therefore I, Yahweh, say, ‘Wait for the day in which I will testify [in court about your evil things].’ I have decided to gather the people of the kingdoms [of the earth] [DOU] and cause them to know that I am very angry with them. All [over] the earth I will punish and destroy people; my being angry with them because I (am jealous/want people to worship no other god) is [like] [MET] a (raging/very hot) fire.
quapropter expecta me dicit Dominus in die resurrectionis meae in futurum quia iudicium meum ut congregem gentes et colligam regna ut effundam super eas indignationem meam omnem iram furoris mei in igne enim zeli mei devorabitur omnis terra
9 When that happens, I will cause [all] people [MTY] to be changed and enable them to speak [only] what is (pure/pleasing to me), in order that everyone can worship me [MTY] and unitedly/together serve me [MTY].
quia tunc reddam populis labium electum ut vocent omnes in nomine Domini et serviant ei umero uno
10 [Then] my people who [were forced to go to other countries], those who live along the upper part of the [Nile] River in Ethiopia will come to me and bring offerings to me.
ultra flumina Aethiopiae inde supplices mei filii dispersorum meorum deferent munus mihi
11 At that time, you [people in Jerusalem] will no [longer] be ashamed [about what has happened to you], because you no longer will be rebelling against me. I will get rid of all the people among you who are very proud [DOU]. No one on [Zion], my holy hill, will [strut around] proudly.
in die illa non confunderis super cunctis adinventionibus tuis quibus praevaricata es in me quia tunc auferam de medio tui magniloquos superbiae tuae et non adicies exaltari amplius in monte sancto meo
12 Those who are still alive in Israel will be poor and humble; they will be people who trust in me [MTY].
et derelinquam in medio tui populum pauperem et egenum et sperabunt in nomine Domini
13 Those people who are still alive [there] in Israel will not do [things that are] wrong; they will not tell lies or deceive [MTY] people. They will eat and sleep [safely], [because] no one will cause them to be afraid.”
reliquiae Israhel non facient iniquitatem nec loquentur mendacium et non invenietur in ore eorum lingua dolosa quoniam ipsi pascentur et accubabunt et non erit qui exterreat
14 You people who live in Jerusalem [DOU] and [other places in] Israel, sing and shout loudly! Be glad, and rejoice [DOU] greatly,
lauda filia Sion iubilate Israhel laetare et exulta in omni corde filia Hierusalem
15 [because] Yahweh will stop punishing [MTY] you, and he will send away from you [the armies of] your enemies! And Yahweh [himself], the king of [us] Israeli people, will live among us, and never again will we be afraid that [others will] harm us.
abstulit Dominus iudicium tuum avertit inimicos tuos rex Israhel Dominus in medio tui non timebis malum ultra
16 At that time, [other people] will say to us people of Jerusalem, “[You people of] [APO] Jerusalem, do not be afraid; do not become afraid or discouraged,
in die illa dicetur Hierusalem noli timere Sion non dissolvantur manus tuae
17 [because] Yahweh your God is [living] among you. He is mighty, and he will rescue/save you. He will be very happy with you; because he loves you, he will cause you to not be afraid; he will sing loudly to rejoice over you.”
Dominus Deus tuus in medio tui Fortis ipse salvabit gaudebit super te in laetitia silebit in dilectione tua exultabit super te in laude
18 [Yahweh says, ] “You people were sad and ashamed because [you were unable to attend] your religious festivals; but I will cause you to no longer be disgraced.
nugas qui a lege recesserant congregabo quia ex te erant ut non ultra habeas super eis obprobrium
19 Truly, I will [severely] punish all those who (oppressed you/caused you to suffer). I will rescue those who are helpless and those who were forced to go to other countries. I will enable them to be praised and honored in every country to which they were (exiled/forced to go), places where they were disgraced.
ecce ego interficiam omnes qui adflixerunt te in tempore illo et salvabo claudicantem et eam quae eiecta fuerat congregabo et ponam eos in laudem et in nomen in omni terra confusionis eorum
20 At that time, I will gather you together and bring you [back] home [to Israel]. I will cause you to (have a good reputation/be honored) and be [greatly] praised among all the nations of the earth. You [MTY] will see me causing you to prosper again. [That will surely happen because I, ] Yahweh, have said it.”
in tempore illo quo adducam vos et in tempore quo congregabo vos dabo enim vos in nomen et in laudem omnibus populis terrae cum convertero captivitatem vestram coram oculis vestris dicit Dominus
