OET interlinear ZEP 1:12

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

בַּ⁠נֵּר֑וֹת

in/on/at/with,lamps

Yahweh is speaking as if he is literally going to use lamps in order to search for evildoers so that he can find them and punish them. He means that he is going to search thoroughly, as if using a lamp in order to see into all dark corners where someone or something might escape notice. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “thoroughly”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

וּ⁠פָקַדְתִּ֣י עַל

and,punish on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in

See how you translated the expression “I will visit upon” in verse 8. Alternate translation: “and I will punish”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

הָ⁠אֲנָשִׁ֗ים הַ⁠קֹּֽפְאִים֙ עַל־שִׁמְרֵי⁠הֶ֔ם

the,men the,complacent on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in dregs_of,their

Here the masculine term men has a generic sense that includes both men and women. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could use language in your translation that is clearly inclusive of both men and women. Alternate translation: “the people who are thickening on their sediment”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

הָ⁠אֲנָשִׁ֗ים הַ⁠קֹּֽפְאִים֙ עַל־שִׁמְרֵי⁠הֶ֔ם

the,men the,complacent on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in dregs_of,their

Yahweh is speaking as if the sinful, complacent people of Jerusalem were literally wine that is thickening because it has been left on its sediment. The term “sediment” describes the small pieces of stem, leaves, and seeds from grape plants that are unintentionally mixed with the juice during the winemaking process. Ordinarily, these are allowed to settle to the bottom of the wine, which is then poured off to separate it from them. Yahweh means that just as wine left on its sediment becomes thick, so these Judeans have become difficult to motivate to repentance. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. You may wish to represent the image as a comparison and explain its meaning. Alternate translation: “the people who have become so complacent” or “the people who have become so complacent that they are like wine that has thickened because no one has poured it off its sediment”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / quotesinquotes

הָ⁠אֹֽמְרִים֙ בִּ⁠לְבָבָ֔⁠ם לֹֽא־יֵיטִ֥יב יְהוָ֖ה וְ⁠לֹ֥א יָרֵֽעַ

the,say in/on/at/with,hearts_of,their not do_good YHWH and=not evil

If it would be clearer in your language, you could translate this so that there is not a quotation within a quotation. Alternate translation: “the ones saying in their heart that Yahweh will not do good and that he will not do bad”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / 123person

הָ⁠אֹֽמְרִים֙ בִּ⁠לְבָבָ֔⁠ם לֹֽא־יֵיטִ֥יב יְהוָ֖ה וְ⁠לֹ֥א יָרֵֽעַ

the,say in/on/at/with,hearts_of,their not do_good YHWH and=not evil

If you decide to turn this quotation within a quotation into an indirect quotation, then Yahweh would be speaking about himself in the third person. If it would be helpful in your language, you could translate this in the first person. Alternate translation: “the ones saying in their heart that I will not do good and that I will not do bad”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

בִּ⁠לְבָבָ֔⁠ם

in/on/at/with,hearts_of,their

Here the heart represents the thoughts. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “in their thoughts” or “to themselves”

Note 8 topic: grammar-collectivenouns

בִּ⁠לְבָבָ֔⁠ם

in/on/at/with,hearts_of,their

Since Job is speaking of many people, if you retain the image of heart in your translation, it may be more natural in your language to use the plural form of the word. Alternate translation: “in their hearts”

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

לֹֽא־יֵיטִ֥יב יְהוָ֖ה וְ⁠לֹ֥א יָרֵֽעַ

not do_good YHWH and=not evil

By do good, these people are implicitly referring to Yahweh rewarding them, and by do bad, they are referring to Yahweh punishing them. You could indicate that in your translation if it would be helpful to your readers. You could also bring out the further implication in what the people are saying: that Yahweh is not a God who enforces justice in the world, so they may act as they wish. Alternate translation: “Yahweh is not going to reward us, and he is not going to punish us” or “Yahweh is not the kind of God who rewards good people and punishes wicked people, so it does not matter how we live”