OET interlinear ZEP 1:7

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

הַ֕ס מִ⁠פְּנֵ֖י אֲדֹנָ֣⁠י יְהוִ֑ה

be_silent (Some words not found in UHB: be_silent from=face/in_front_of my=master GOD that/for/because/then/when near day YHWH that/for/because/then/when prepared YHWH sacrifice consecrated [those_of,who_were]_invited_by_him )

Here the word face represents the presence of a person by association with the way people can see the face of someone who is present. Alternate translation: [Hush in the presence of Lord Yahweh]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / exclamations

הַ֕ס מִ⁠פְּנֵ֖י אֲדֹנָ֣⁠י יְהוִ֑ה

be_silent (Some words not found in UHB: be_silent from=face/in_front_of my=master GOD that/for/because/then/when near day YHWH that/for/because/then/when prepared YHWH sacrifice consecrated [those_of,who_were]_invited_by_him )

The word Hush is an exclamation that urges listeners to be silent. In your translation, you may choose to use an exclamation that is natural in your language for communicating this. You could also translate the word as an imperative. Alternate translation: [Shh! in the presence of Lord Yahweh]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

קָרוֹב֙ י֣וֹם יְהוָ֔ה

near day YHWH

The expression the day of Yahweh refers to a specific time when God will punish people for their sins. Alternate translation: [the time is coming soon when Yahweh will punish people for their sins]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

הֵכִ֧ין יְהוָ֛ה זֶ֖בַח הִקְדִּ֥ישׁ קְרֻאָֽי⁠ו

prepared YHWH sacrifice (Some words not found in UHB: be_silent from=face/in_front_of my=master GOD that/for/because/then/when near day YHWH that/for/because/then/when prepared YHWH sacrifice consecrated [those_of,who_were]_invited_by_him )

Zephaniah is speaking as if Yahweh had literally prepared a sacrifice and ceremonially cleansed (sanctified) those he had invited to share a meal from the meat of the sacrificed animal. He is speaking of the people of Judah as if they were this sacrifice, and of an enemy army, most likely that of the Babylonians, as if it would feast on the Judeans, meaning that this foreign power would conquer them and plunder them, as verses 13–16 indicate. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [Yahweh is going to allow a foreign army to conquer and plunder the land of Judah]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

קְרֻאָֽי⁠ו

[those_of,who_were]_invited_by_him

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [the ones he has invited]