OET-RV GEN EXO LEV NUM DEUT JOB YEHO (JOS) HERO (JDG) RUTH 1 SAM 2 SAM PSA AMOS HOS 1 KI 2 KI 1 CHR 2 CHR PROV ECC SNG YOEL (JOEL) MIC ISA ZEP HAB YIR (JER) LAM YNA (JNA) NAH OBAD DAN EZEK EZRA EST NEH HAG ZEC MAL 2 PS WIS TOB MAN BAR G DAN G ESD L ESD ESG JDT 3 MAC SIR 1 MAC 2 MAC 4 MAC YHN (JHN) MARK MAT LUKE ACTs YAC (JAM) GAL 1 TH 2 TH 1 COR 2 COR ROM COL LAOD PHM EPH PHP 1 TIM TIT 1 PET 2 PET 2 TIM HEB YUD (JUD) 1 YHN (1 JHN) 2 YHN (2 JHN) 3 YHN (3 JHN) REV
OET-RV ZEP 1 V1 V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 V7 V8 V9 V10 V11 V12 V13 V14 V15 V16 V17 V18
This OET Readers’ Version was designed to be used with the Literal Version alongside, so you won’t get the best understanding from this single viewpoint. This is still an early look into the drafted text of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check the text in advance before using in public.
1 The message from Yahweh which came to Tsefanyah (Zephaniah) (son of Kush (Ethiopia), son of Gedalyah, son of Amaryah, son of Hizkiyah (Hezekiah)) in the time of Amon’s son, King Yoshiyah (Josiah) of Yehudah (Judah)[ref]
I will exterminate everything that lives on the ground.
I’ll bring humans and animals to an end, along with the birds and fish. Wicked people will be destroyed along with their idols and humankind will be cut-off from the earth. 4 I will punish the people of Yehudah (Judah),
≈ and those living in Yerushalem (Jerusalem).
I will wipe all remnants of Ba’al out from this place.
≈ No one will even remember the names of those priests who served idols.
5 I’ll punish those who bowed down to the stars and planets from their rooftops,
≈ and those making promises to Yahweh but then promising to the false god Malkam.[fn]
6 I’ll punish those who turn back after following me, Yahweh,
as well as those who haven’t searched for Yahweh or prayed to me.
7 Be silent in the presence of the master Yahweh,
Yahweh has prepared a sacrifice,
and he’s consecrated his guests.
8 On the day of Yahweh’s sacrifice, I will visit their officials and the king’s sons, and all those wearing foreign clothing. 9 At that time I will punish all the officials who force their way into people’s homes—the ones filling their masters’ houses using fraud and violence.
On that day a cry of distress will come from the Fish Gate,
≈ and wailing from the second district
and a loud crash from the hills.
11 Wail, you inhabitants of the Maktesh,
because all of the people of Kena’an (Canaan) will be destroyed.
All the money-counters will be eliminated.
12 I will search Yerushalem (Jerusalem) with lamps at that time,
and I will punish those who’ve sunk to the bottom—
the ones who tell themselves,
‘Yahweh will never take action—either good or bad.’
13 Their wealth will be taken as plunder
and their houses will be ruined.
They’ll build houses, but they won’t get to live in them.
≈ They’ll plant vineyards, but won’t get to drink their wine.
14 Yahweh’s big day of judgement is near—
≈ close and coming quickly.
The sound of Yahweh’s day is bitter—
15 That day will be a day of anger,
a day of distress and anguish,
a day of destruction and desolation,
a day of cloud and thick darkness,
16 a day of trumpet blasts and with the battle cry
against the fortified cities and against the high towers on their corners.
17 I’ll bring distress to the people,
and they’ll walk slowly as if they were blind,
because they’ve sinned against Yahweh.
Their blood will be poured out like dust,
≈ and their innards like dung.
18 Their silver, and even their gold, won’t be able to save them
The whole earth will be consumed in the fire of his jealousy
1:5 A variant of the name of the pagan god ‘Molek’ (or ‘Molech’, but also close to the Hebrew word for ‘king’ as found in some other translations).
