Zephanja 3
1 Wehe dir, du widerspenstige, du befleckte, du bedrückende Stadt!
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].
2 Sie hört nicht auf die Stimme, nimmt keine Zucht an, traut nicht auf Jehovah, naht nicht zu ihrem Gott.
[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.
3 Brüllende Löwen sind ihre Obersten in ihrer Mitte, ihre Richter Abendwölfe, die nichts bis zum Morgen überlassen.
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].
4 Ihre Propheten sind leichtfertig, Männer der Treulosigkeit; ihre Priester entweihen das Heilige, tun Gewalt an dem Gesetz.
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].
5 Jehovah ist gerecht in ihrer Mitte, tut nichts Verkehrtes; am Morgen, am Morgen gibt Er Sein Gericht ans Licht. Er läßt es nicht fehlen; aber der Verkehrte kennt keine Scham.
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].
6 Ich rotte Völkerschaften aus, verwüstet sind ihre Ecken, Ich veröde ihre Gassen, so daß niemand vorübergeht, abgeödet sind ihre Städte, daß kein Mann da ist, daß keiner darin wohnt.
[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].
7 Ich sprach: Fürchte Mich nur, nimm Zucht an, und ihre Wohnstätte soll nicht ausgerottet werden, nach allem, das Ich über sie bestellt habe; doch früh aufstehend, verdarben sie ihr Tun.
[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.
8 Darum harrt auf Mich, spricht Jehovah, bis zu dem Tage, da Ich Mich aufmache zum Raub; denn Mein Gericht ist, daß Ich die Völkerschaften sammle, daß Ich die Königreiche zusammenbringe, auf daß Ich über sie ausschütte Meinen Unwillen, all Meines Zornes Entbrennung, daß in dem Feuer Meines Eiferns alles Land aufgefressen werde.
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.
9 Denn dann werde Ich Mich zu Völkern wenden mit lauter Lippe, daß sie alle den Namen Jehovahs anrufen und Ihm dienen mit einer Schulter.
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].
10 Von jenseits der Flüsse Kuschs, die so Mich anflehen, die Tochter Meiner Zerstreuten, sie werden Mir Geschenke herbeibringen.
[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.
11 An jenem Tage mußt du dich nicht schämen ob all deiner Taten, wodurch du von Mir abgefallen bist; denn dann nehme Ich weg aus deiner Mitte die übermütig Jauchzenden, daß du nicht fürder mehr hoffärtig seist auf dem Berge meiner Heiligkeit.
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.
12 Und Ich lasse verbleiben in deiner Mitte ein elendes und geringes Volk, und sie sollen sich verlassen auf den Namen Jehovahs.
Those who are still alive in Israel will be poor and humble; they will be people who trust in me [MTY].
13 Israels Überrest wird nichts Verkehrtes tun, und nichts Falsches reden. Und in ihrem Munde wird man nicht des Truges Zunge finden. Denn sie werden weiden und sich lagern, und niemand scheucht sie auf.
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.”
14 Lobsinge, du Tochter Zijons, rufe laut, Israel, sei fröhlich und jauchze von ganzem Herzen, Tochter Jerusalems.
You people who live in Jerusalem [DOU] and [other places in] Israel, sing and shout loudly! Be glad, and rejoice [DOU] greatly,
15 Jehovah hat deine Gerichte weggenommen, hat abgewandt deinen Feind. Israels König ist Jehovah in deiner Mitte, kein Böses wirst du mehr fürchten.
[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.
16 An jenem Tage wird man sprechen zu Jerusalem: Fürchte dich nicht! Laß deine Hände, Zijon, nicht erschlaffen.
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,
17 Jehovah, dein Gott, ist in deiner Mitte, der Held, Der rettet. Er wird ob dir Sich freuen mit Fröhlichkeit, wird stille schweigen in Seiner Liebe, wird jubelnd frohlocken über dir.
[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.”
18 Die, welche sich vom Festorte weg grämten, sammle Ich, sie waren fort von dir. Eine Last war auf ihr, eine Schmach.
[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.
19 Siehe, Ich werde es tun zur selben Zeit mit allen deinen Bedrückern, und rette die, welche hinkt, bringe die Verstoßenen zusammen; und Ich setze dieselben zum Lobe und zum Namen in all dem Lande ihrer Scham.
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.
20 Zu jener Zeit bringe Ich euch herein, und zu der Zeit bringe Ich euch zusammen; denn zum Namen und zum Lob gebe Ich euch unter allen Völkern der Erde, wenn Ich eure Gefangenschaft vor euren Augen zurückgewendet habe, spricht Jehovah.
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.”
