Zephaniah 1:6

1:6 and those who turn their backs on ¹  the Lord

and do not want the Lord’s help or guidance.” ² 

Zephaniah 3:3

3:3 Her princes ³  are as fierce as roaring lions; ⁴ 

her rulers ⁵  are as hungry as wolves in the desert, ⁶ 

who completely devour their prey by morning. ⁷ 

[1:6]  ¹ tn Heb “turn back from [following] after.”

[1:6]  ² tn Heb “who do not seek the Lord and do not inquire of him.” The present translation assumes the first verb refers to praying for divine help and the second to seeking his revealed will through an oracle. Note the usage of the two verbs in 2 Chr 20:3-4.

[3:3]  ³ tn Or “officials.”

[3:3]  ⁴ tn Heb “her princes in her midst are roaring lions.” The metaphor has been translated as a simile (“as fierce as”) for clarity.

[3:3]  ⁵ tn Traditionally “judges.”

[3:3]  ⁶ tn Heb “her judges [are] wolves of the evening,” that is, wolves that prowl at night. The translation assumes an emendation to עֲרָבָה (’aravah, “desert”). For a discussion of this and other options, see Adele Berlin, Zephaniah (AB 25A), 128. The metaphor has been translated as a simile (“as hungry as”) for clarity.

[3:3]  ⁷ tn Heb “they do not gnaw [a bone] at morning.” The precise meaning of the line is unclear. The statement may mean these wolves devour their prey so completely that not even a bone is left to gnaw by the time morning arrives. For a discussion of this and other options, see Adele Berlin, Zephaniah (AB 25A), 129.