OET interlinear ZEP 2:15

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

זֹ֞֠את הָ⁠עִ֤יר הָ⁠עַלִּיזָה֙ הַ⁠יּוֹשֶׁ֣בֶת לָ⁠בֶ֔טַח הָ⁠אֹֽמְרָה֙ בִּ⁠לְבָבָ֔⁠הּ אֲנִ֖י וְ⁠אַפְסִ֣⁠י ע֑וֹד

this(f) the=city the,exultant the,lived in,security the,said in/on/at/with,heart_of,her I and,there_is_no_one_of,me again/more

Zephaniah is speaking of the city of Nineveh as if it were a living thing that could exult, dwell in security, and speak. He means that the people of Nineveh have done these things. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “This is the city whose people exulted, who thought they dwelled in security, who said in their hearts, ‘We are, and besides us there are no others.’”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

הָ⁠אֹֽמְרָה֙ בִּ⁠לְבָבָ֔⁠הּ אֲנִ֖י וְ⁠אַפְסִ֣⁠י ע֑וֹד

the,said in/on/at/with,heart_of,her I and,there_is_no_one_of,me again/more

Here the heart represents the thoughts. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “the one saying in its thoughts, ‘I am, and besides me there is not another’” or “the one saying to itself, ‘I am, and besides me there it not another’”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

הָ⁠אֹֽמְרָה֙ בִּ⁠לְבָבָ֔⁠הּ אֲנִ֖י וְ⁠אַפְסִ֣⁠י ע֑וֹד

the,said in/on/at/with,heart_of,her I and,there_is_no_one_of,me again/more

In this context, the quoted statement means, “I am the only city that really matters; it is as if all other cities did not even exist.” You could say that in your translation if it would be helpful to your readers.

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / quotesinquotes

הָ⁠אֹֽמְרָה֙ בִּ⁠לְבָבָ֔⁠הּ אֲנִ֖י וְ⁠אַפְסִ֣⁠י ע֑וֹד

the,said in/on/at/with,heart_of,her I and,there_is_no_one_of,me again/more

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 one saying to itself that it is the only city that really matters, as if all other cities did not even exist” or “The one whose people said to themselves that their city was the only one that really mattered, as if all other cities did not even exist”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / pastforfuture

אֵ֣יךְ ׀ הָיְתָ֣ה לְ⁠שַׁמָּ֗ה

what she/it_was into,desolation

Zephaniah is using the past tense in order to describe something that will happen in the future. He is doing this to show that the event will certainly happen. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use the future tense. Alternate translation: “How it will become a ruin”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

מַרְבֵּץ֙ לַֽ⁠חַיָּ֔ה

lair for_THE,wild_animals

Zephaniah is not referring to a specific beast. He means beasts in general. It may be more natural in your language to express this meaning by using a plural form. Alternate translation: “a lair for beasts”

Note 7 topic: translate-symaction

כֹּ֚ל עוֹבֵ֣ר עָלֶ֔י⁠הָ יִשְׁרֹ֖ק יָנִ֥יעַ יָדֽ⁠וֹ

all passes on/upon=it(f) hisses shakes his/its=hand

Hissing and shaking a fist at Nineveh would be symbolic actions that expressed contempt for the city. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could explain the significance of these actions. Alternate translation: “Every one passing by will hiss at it in contempt; he will shake his fist in scorn”