OET interlinear ZEP 1:15

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

הַ⁠יּ֣וֹם הַ⁠ה֑וּא

the=day (the)=that

If you have been translating the phrase “the day of Yahweh” with an expression that uses the word “time,” you may wish to say “time” rather than day in each of the instances in this verse.

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

י֧וֹם צָרָ֣ה וּ⁠מְצוּקָ֗ה י֤וֹם שֹׁאָה֙ וּ⁠מְשׁוֹאָ֔ה י֥וֹם חֹ֨שֶׁךְ֙ וַ⁠אֲפֵלָ֔ה י֥וֹם עָנָ֖ן וַ⁠עֲרָפֶֽל

day trouble and,trouble day (Some words not found in UHB: day severe_anger the=day (the)=that day trouble and,trouble day destruction and,desolation day darkness and,gloom day clouds and,thick_darkness )

In these four cases, Yahweh is using two words with similar meaning together for emphasis. If it would be clearer for your readers, you could express the emphasis with a single phrase. Alternate translation: [a day of great distress, a day of severe destruction, a day of deep darkness, a day of thick cloud]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

י֥וֹם חֹ֨שֶׁךְ֙ וַ⁠אֲפֵלָ֔ה י֥וֹם עָנָ֖ן וַ⁠עֲרָפֶֽל

day day day (Some words not found in UHB: day severe_anger the=day (the)=that day trouble and,trouble day destruction and,desolation day darkness and,gloom day clouds and,thick_darkness )

Yahweh is speaking as if the sky will literally be dark and cloudy at the time when he punishes people for their sins. He means that it will be a time when people experience much trouble and feel great sorrow. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [a day of terrible trouble, a day of deep sorrow]