Zephaniah 3:16

3:16 On that day they will say ¹  to Jerusalem,

“Don’t be afraid, Zion!

Your hands must not be paralyzed from panic! ² 

Zephaniah 3:8

3:8 Therefore you must wait patiently ³  for me,” says the Lord,

“for the day when I attack and take plunder. ⁴ 

I have decided ⁵  to gather nations together

and assemble kingdoms,

so I can pour out my fury on them –

all my raging anger.

For ⁶  the whole earth will be consumed

by my fiery anger.

[3:16]  ¹ tn Heb “it will be said.” The passive construction has been translated as active for stylistic reasons.

[3:16]  ² tn Heb “your hands must not go limp.”

[3:8]  ³ tn The second person verb form (“you must wait patiently”) is masculine plural, indicating that a group is being addressed. Perhaps the humble individuals addressed earlier (see 2:3) are in view. Because of Jerusalem’s sin, they must patiently wait for judgment to pass before their vindication arrives.

[3:8]  ⁴ tn Heb “when I arise for plunder.” The present translation takes עַד (’ad) as “plunder.” Some, following the LXX, repoint the term עֵד (’ed) and translate, “as a witness” (cf. NASB, NIV, NRSV). In this case the Lord uses a legal metaphor to picture himself as testifying against his enemies. Adele Berlin takes לְעַד (lÿ’ad) in a temporal sense (“forever”) and translates “once and for all” (Zephaniah [AB 25A], 133).

[3:8]  ⁵ tn Heb “for my decision is.”

[3:8]  ⁶ tn Or “certainly.”