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 3:7

3:7 I thought, ³  ‘Certainly you will respect ⁴  me!

Now you will accept correction!’

If she had done so, her home ⁵  would not be destroyed ⁶ 

by all the punishments I have threatened. ⁷ 

But they eagerly sinned

in everything they did. ⁸ 

[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.

[3:7]  ³ tn Heb “said.”

[3:7]  ⁴ tn Or “fear.” The second person verb form (“you will respect”) is feminine singular, indicating that personified Jerusalem is addressed.

[3:7]  ⁵ tn Or “dwelling place.”

[3:7]  ⁶ tn Heb “cut off.”

[3:7]  ⁷ tn Heb “all which I have punished her.” The precise meaning of this statement and its relationship to what precedes are unclear.

[3:7]  ⁸ tn Heb “But they got up early, they made corrupt all their actions.” The phrase “they got up early” probably refers to their eagerness to engage in sinful activities.