OET interlinear ZEP 1:2

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-quotations

אָסֹ֨ף אָסֵ֜ף כֹּ֗ל מֵ⁠עַ֛ל פְּנֵ֥י הָ⁠אֲדָמָ֖ה נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה

to_sweep_away surely_destroy all from=under face/surface_of the=soil declares_of YHWH

Zephaniah is using the phrase the declaration of Yahweh to indicate that he is quoting the message that Yahweh has given him for the people of Judah. Consider natural ways of identifying direct quotations in your language. It may be more natural for you to put this attribution of the saying to Yahweh before the saying itself, as the UST does. Alternate translation: “This is what Yahweh declares: ‘Removing, I will exterminate everything from upon the face of the ground’”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / hyperbole

אָסֹ֨ף אָסֵ֜ף כֹּ֗ל מֵ⁠עַ֛ל פְּנֵ֥י הָ⁠אֲדָמָ֖ה

to_sweep_away surely_destroy all from=under face/surface_of the=soil

When Yahweh says that he is going to destroy everything on the surface of the earth, he is probably making an overstatement for emphasis. He wants to express how angry he is at the sinful disobedience of people. If it would be clearer in your language, you could show the emphasis in a different way. Alternate translation: “I will cause very great destruction on the earth”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / reduplication

אָסֹ֨ף אָסֵ֜ף כֹּ֗ל

to_sweep_away surely_destroy all

Yahweh is using one verb and a different verb of similar meaning together in order to intensify the idea that these verbs express. Ordinarily in this construction, the same verb would be used twice. But here two verbs of similar sound and meaning are used for poetic effect and emphasis. If your language can repeat verbs for intensification, it would be appropriate to do that here in your translation. If it has two verbs of similar sound and meaning that you can use, that would reflect the poetic effect here. Your language may also have another way of expressing the emphasis. Alternate translation: “I will totally exterminate everything”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

פְּנֵ֥י הָ⁠אֲדָמָ֖ה

face/surface_of the=soil

Yahweh is speaking as if the surface of the earth or ground were literally its face. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “the surface of the earth”