1:9 On that day I will punish all who leap over the threshold, 1
who fill the house of their master 2 with wealth taken by violence and deceit. 3
1:10 On that day,” says the Lord,
“a loud cry will go up 4 from the Fish Gate, 5
wailing from the city’s newer district, 6
and a loud crash 7 from the hills.
1:15 That day will be a day of God’s anger, 8
a day of distress and hardship,
a day of devastation and ruin,
a day of darkness and gloom,
a day of clouds and dark skies,
3:19 Look, at that time I will deal with those who mistreated you.
I will rescue the lame sheep 9
and gather together the scattered sheep.
I will take away their humiliation
and make the whole earth admire and respect them. 10
1 sn The point of the statement all who hop over the threshold is unclear. A ritual or superstition associated with the Philistine god Dagon may be in view (see 1 Sam 5:5).
2 tn The referent of “their master” is unclear. The king or a pagan god may be in view.
3 tn Heb “who fill…with violence and deceit.” The expression “violence and deceit” refers metonymically to the wealth taken by oppressive measures.
4 tn The words “will go up” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
5 sn The Fish Gate was located on Jerusalem’s north side (cf. 2 Chr 33:14; Neh 3:3; 12:39).
6 tn Heb “from the second area.” This may refer to an area northwest of the temple where the rich lived (see Adele Berlin, Zephaniah [AB 25A], 86; cf. NASB, NRSV “the Second Quarter”; NIV “the New Quarter”).
7 tn Heb “great breaking.”
7 tn Heb “a day of wrath.” The word “God’s” is supplied in the translation for clarification.
10 tn The word “sheep” is supplied for clarification. As in Mic 4:6-7, the exiles are here pictured as injured and scattered sheep whom the divine shepherd rescues from danger.
11 tn Heb “I will make them into praise and a name, in all the earth, their shame.” The present translation assumes that “their shame” specifies “them” and that “name” stands here for a good reputation.