Revised Literal Translation

Zephaniah 3

1Woeה֥וֹיHoH1945to her that is filthyמֹרְאָ֖הmo.re.'AhH4754and pollutedוְנִגְאָלָ֑הve.nig.'a.LahH1351,to the oppressingהַיּוֹנָֽה׃hai.yo.NahH3238cityהָעִ֖ירha.'IrH5892!

2She obeyedשָֽׁמְעָה֙sha.me.'AhH8085not the voiceבְּק֔וֹלbe.KolH6963;she receivedלָקְחָ֖הla.ke.ChahH3947not correctionמוּסָ֑רmu.SarH4148;she trustedבָטָ֔חָהva.Ta.chahH982not in Yhwhבַּֽיהוָה֙ba.Yah.wehH3068;she drew not nearקָרֵֽבָה׃ka.Re.vahH7126to her Godאֱלֹהֶ֖יהָ'e.lo.Hei.haH430.

3Her princesשָׂרֶ֣יהָsa.Rei.haH8269withinבְקִרְבָּ֔הּve.kir.BahH7130her areroaringשֹֽׁאֲגִ֑יםsho.'a.GimH7580lionsאֲרָי֖וֹת'a.ra.YotH738;her judgesשֹׁפְטֶ֙יהָ֙sho.fe.Tei.haH8199areeveningעֶ֔רֶב'E.revH6153wolvesזְאֵ֣בֵיze.'E.veiH2061;they gnaw not the bonesגָרְמ֖וּga.re.MuH1633till the morrowלַבֹּֽקֶר׃la.Bo.kerH1242.

4Her prophetsנְבִיאֶ֙יהָ֙ne.vi.'Ei.haH5030arelightפֹּֽחֲזִ֔יםpo.cha.ZimH6348andtreacherousבֹּֽגְד֑וֹתbo.ge.DotH900personsאַנְשֵׁ֖י'an.SheiH582:her priestsכֹּהֲנֶ֙יהָ֙ko.ha.Nei.haH3548have pollutedחִלְּלוּ־chi.le.lu-H2490the sanctuaryקֹ֔דֶשׁKo.deshH6944,they have done violenceחָמְס֖וּcha.me.SuH2554to the lawתּוֹרָֽה׃to.RahH8451.

5The justצַדִּיק֙tza.DikH6662Yhwhיְהוָ֤הYah.wehH3068isin the midstבְּקִרְבָּ֔הּbe.kir.BahH7130thereof; he will not doיַעֲשֶׂ֖הya.'a.SehH6213iniquityעַוְלָ֑ה'av.LahH5766:everyבַּבֹּ֨קֶרba.Bo.kerH1242morningבַּבֹּ֜קֶרba.Bo.kerH1242doth he bringיִתֵּ֤ןyi.TenH5414his judgmentמִשְׁפָּט֨וֹmish.pa.ToH4941to lightלָאוֹר֙la.'OrH216,he failethנֶעְדָּ֔רne'.DarH5737not; but the unjustעַוָּ֖ל'a.ValH5767knowethיוֹדֵ֥עַyo.De.a'H3045no shameבֹּֽשֶׁת׃Bo.shetH1322.

6I have cut offהִכְרַ֣תִּיhikh.Ra.tiH3772the nationsגוֹיִ֗םgo.YimH1471:their towersפִּנּוֹתָ֔םpi.no.TamH6438are desolateנָשַׁ֙מּוּ֙na.Sha.muH8074;I made their streetsחֽוּצוֹתָ֖םchu.tzo.TamH2351wasteהֶחֱרַ֥בְתִּיhe.che.Rav.tiH2717,that none passeth byעוֹבֵ֑רo.VerH5674:their citiesעָרֵיהֶ֛ם'a.rei.HemH5892are destroyedנִצְדּ֧וּnitz.DuH6658,so that there is no manאִ֖ישׁ'ishH376,that there is none inhabitantיוֹשֵֽׁב׃yo.ShevH3427.

7I saidאָמַ֜רְתִּי'a.Mar.tiH559,Surely thou wilt fearתִּירְאִ֤יtir.'IH3372me, thou wilt receiveתִּקְחִ֣יtik.ChiH3947instructionמוּסָ֔רmu.SarH4148;so their dwellingמְעוֹנָ֔הּme.'o.NahH4583should not be cut offיִכָּרֵ֣תyi.ka.RetH3772,howsoeverאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H3605 H834I punishedפָּקַ֖דְתִּיpa.Kad.tiH6485them: butאָכֵן֙'a.KhenH403they rose earlyהִשְׁכִּ֣ימוּhish.Ki.muH7925, andcorruptedהִשְׁחִ֔יתוּhish.Chi.tuH7843all their doingsעֲלִילוֹתָֽם׃a.li.lo.TamH5949.

8Therefore waitחַכּוּ־cha.ku-H2442ye upon me, saithנְאֻם־ne.'um-H5002Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068,until the dayלְי֖וֹםle.YomH3117that I rise upקוּמִ֣יku.MiH6965to the preyH5706:for my determinationמִשְׁפָּטִי֩mish.pa.TiH4941isto gatherלֶאֱסֹ֨ףle.'e.SofH622the nationsגּוֹיִ֜םgo.YimH1471,that I may assembleלְקָבְצִ֣יle.ka.ve.TziH6908the kingdomsמַמְלָכ֗וֹתmam.la.KhotH4467,to pourלִשְׁפֹּ֨ךְlish.PokhH8210upon them mine indignationזַעְמִי֙za'.MiH2195, evenall my fierceחֲר֣וֹןcha.RonH2740angerאַפִּ֔י'a.PiH639:for all the earthהָאָֽרֶץ׃ha.'A.retzH776shall be devouredתֵּאָכֵ֖לte.'a.KhelH398with the fireבְּאֵ֣שׁbe.'EshH784of my jealousyקִנְאָתִ֔יkin.'a.TiH7068.

9For then will I turnאֶהְפֹּ֥ךְ'eh.PokhH2015to the peopleעַמִּ֖ים'a.MimH5971a pureבְרוּרָ֑הve.ru.RahH1305languageשָׂפָ֣הsa.FahH8193,that they may all callלִקְרֹ֤אlik.Ro'H7121upon the nameבְּשֵׁ֣םbe.ShemH8034of Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068,to serveלְעָבְד֖וֹle.'a.ve.DoH5647him with oneאֶחָֽד׃'e.ChadH259consentשְׁכֶ֥םshe.KhemH7926.

10From beyondמֵעֵ֖בֶרme.'E.verH5676the riversלְנַֽהֲרֵי־le.na.ha.rei-H5104of Ethiopiaכ֑וּשׁKhushH3568my suppliantsעֲתָרַי֙'a.ta.RaiH6282, eventhe daughterבַּת־bat-H1323of my dispersedפוּצַ֔יpu.TzaiH6327,shall bringיוֹבִל֖וּןyoi.LunH2986mine offeringמִנְחָתִֽי׃min.cha.TiH4503.

11In that dayבַּיּ֣וֹםbai.YomH3117shalt thou not be ashamedתֵב֙וֹשִׁי֙te.Vo.o.shiH954for all thy doingsעֲלִילֹתַ֔יִךְ'a.li.lo.Ta.yikhH5949,wherein thou hast transgressedפָּשַׁ֖עַתְּpa.Sha.'atH6586against me: for then I will take awayאָסִ֣יר'a.SirH5493out of the midstמִקִּרְבֵּ֗ךְmi.kir.BekhH7130of thee them that rejoiceעַלִּיזֵי֙'a.li.ZeiH5947in thy prideגַּאֲוָתֵ֔ךְga.'a.va.TekhH1346,and thou shalt no moreתוֹסִ֧פִיto.Si.fiH3254be haughtyלְגָבְהָ֛הle.ga.ve.HahH1361because of my holyקָדְשִֽׁי׃kod.shiH6944mountainבְּהַ֥רbe.HarH2022.

12I will also leaveוְהִשְׁאַרְתִּ֣יve.hish.'ar.TiH7604in the midstבְקִרְבֵּ֔ךְve.kir.BekhH7130of thee an afflictedעָנִ֖י'a.NiH6041and poorוָדָ֑לva.DalH1800peopleעַ֥ם'amH5971,and they shall trustוְחָס֖וּve.cha.SuH2620in the nameבְּשֵׁ֥םbe.ShemH8034of Yhwhיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068.

13The remnantשְׁאֵרִ֨יתshe.'e.RitH7611of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֜לYis.ra.'ElH3478shall not doיַעֲשׂ֤וּya.'a.SuH6213iniquityעַוְלָה֙'av.LahH5766,nor speakיְדַבְּר֣וּye.da.be.RuH1696liesכָזָ֔בkha.ZavH3577;neither shall a deceitfulתַּרְמִ֑יתtar.MitH8649tongueלְשׁ֣וֹןle.ShonH3956be foundיִמָּצֵ֥אyi.ma.Tze'H4672in their mouthבְּפִיהֶ֖םbe.fi.HemH6310:for they shall feedיִרְע֥וּyir.'UH7462and lie downוְרָבְצ֖וּve.ra.ve.TzuH7257, and none shall make themafraidמַחֲרִֽיד׃ סma.cha.RidH2729.

14Singרָנִּי֙ra.NiH7442,O daughterבַּת־bat-H1323of Zionצִיּ֔וֹןtzi.YonH6726;shoutהָרִ֖יעוּha.Ri.'uH7321,O Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478;be gladשִׂמְחִ֤יsim.ChiH8055and rejoiceוְעָלְזִי֙ve.'al.ZiH5937with all the heartלֵ֔בLevH3820,O daughterבַּ֖תbatH1323of Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ye.ru.sha.LimH3389.

15Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068hath taken awayהֵסִ֤ירhe.SirH5493thy judgmentsמִשְׁפָּטַ֔יִךְmish.pa.Ta.yikhH4941,he hath cast outפִּנָּ֖הpi.NahH6437thine enemyאֹֽיְבֵ֑ךְ'o.ye.VekhH341:the kingמֶ֣לֶךְMe.lekhH4428of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל׀Yis.ra.'ElH3478, evenYhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068, isin the midstבְּקִרְבֵּ֔ךְbe.kir.BekhH7130of thee: thou shalt not seeH7200evilרָ֖עra'H7451any more.

16In that dayבַּיּ֣וֹםbai.YomH3117it shall be saidיֵאָמֵ֥רye.'a.MerH559to Jerusalemלִירֽוּשָׁלִַ֖םli.ru.sha.LimH3389,Fearתִּירָ֑אִיti.Ra.'iH3372thou not: and toZionצִיּ֖וֹןtzi.YonH6726,Let not thine handsיָדָֽיִךְ׃ya.Da.yikhH3027be slackיִרְפּ֥וּyir.PuH7503.

17Yhwhיְהוָ֧הYah.wehH3068thy Godאֱלֹהַ֛יִךְ'e.lo.Ha.yikhH430in the midstבְּקִרְבֵּ֖ךbe.kir.BekhH7130of thee ismightyגִּבּ֣וֹרgi.BorH1368;he will saveיוֹשִׁ֑יעַyo.Shi.a'H3467,he will rejoiceיָשִׂ֨ישׂya.SisH7797over thee with joyבְּשִׂמְחָ֗הbe.sim.ChahH8057;he will restיַחֲרִישׁ֙ya.cha.RishH2790in his loveבְּאַ֣הֲבָת֔וֹbe.'A.ha.va.ToH160,he will joyיָגִ֥ילya.GilH1523over thee with singingבְּרִנָּֽה׃be.ri.NahH7440.

18I will gatherאָסַ֖פְתִּי'a.Saf.tiH622them that aresorrowfulנוּגֵ֧יnu.GeiH3013for the solemn assemblyמִמּוֹעֵ֛דmi.mo.'EdH4150, who are of thee, to whomthe reproachחֶרְפָּֽה׃cher.PahH2781of it wasa burdenמַשְׂאֵ֥תmas.'EtH4864.

19Behold, at that timeבָּעֵ֣תba.'EtH6256I will undoעֹשֶׂ֛ה'o.SehH6213all that afflictמְעַנַּ֖יִךְme.'a.Na.yikhH6031thee: and I will saveוְהוֹשַׁעְתִּ֣יve.ho.sha'.TiH3467her that haltethהַצֹּלֵעָ֗הha.tzo.le.'AhH6760,and gatherאֲקַבֵּ֔ץ'a.ka.BetzH6908her that was driven outוְהַנִּדָּחָה֙ve.han.ni.da.ChahH5080;and I will getוְשַׂמְתִּים֙ve.sam.TimH7760them praiseלִתְהִלָּ֣הlit.hi.LahH8416and fameוּלְשֵׁ֔םu.le.ShemH8034in every landהָאָ֖רֶץha.'A.retzH776where they have been put to shameבָּשְׁתָּֽם׃ba.she.TamH1322.

20At that timeבָּעֵ֤תba.'EtH6256will I bringאָבִ֣יא'a.Vi'H935you again,even in the timeוּבָעֵ֖תu.va.'EtH6256that I gatherקַבְּצִ֣יka.be.TziH6908you: for I will makeאֶתֵּ֨ן'e.TenH5414you a nameלְשֵׁ֣םle.ShemH8034and a praiseוְלִתְהִלָּ֗הve.lit.hi.LahH8416among all peopleעַמֵּ֣י'a.MeiH5971of the earthהָאָ֔רֶץha.'A.retzH776,when I turn backבְּשׁוּבִ֧יbe.shu.ViH7725your captivityשְׁבוּתֵיכֶ֛םshe.vu.tei.KhemH7622before your eyesלְעֵינֵיכֶ֖םle.'ei.nei.KhemH5869,saithאָמַ֥ר'a.MarH559Yhwhיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068.

Commentaries on Zephaniah 3