< Zefanias 3 >

1 Ve den genstridige, urene, grumme By!
Terrible things will [also] happen [to Jerusalem], that city whose people have rebelled [against Yahweh] and who have become unacceptable to him [because of the sins that they have committed]. [They act violently toward others] and they (oppress/treat cruelly) [other people].
2 Den hører ej HERRENs Røst, tager ikke mod Tugt. På HERREN stoler den ej, holder sig ej til Gud.
[The people there] do not pay attention to people who tell them [the wrong things that they are doing] and [try to] (correct them/cause them to quit doing those things). [The people in Jerusalem] do not trust in Yahweh or draw near to ask help from their God.
3 Fyrsterne i dens Midte er brølende Løver, dens dommere som Ulve ved Kvæld, der ej levner til Morgen;
Their leaders are [like] [MET] roaring lions; they are [like] [MET] wolves that [attack other animals] during the evening, [and eat everything that they kill], with the result that the next morning there is nothing left [of those animals to eat].
4 Skrydere er dens Profeter, troløse Mænd, dens Præster vanærer det hellige, øver Vold mod Loven.
The prophets in Jerusalem are proud, [and they give messages that are] not to be trusted. Their priests cause the temple to be unholy by doing things that are opposed to the laws [of Moses].
5 HERREN er retfærdig i dens Midte, gør ikke Uret; hver Morgen gør han Ret, ej svigte Lyset, til Uret kender han ikke.
But Yahweh is [also] in the city; and he never does what is wrong. He treats people justly/fairly; he does that every day, but wicked people are never ashamed [about their doing what is wrong].
6 I Stridslarm udrydded jeg Folk, deres Tinder er øde, deres Gader lagde jeg øde, så ingen går der, deres Byer er hærget, mennesketomme, ingen bor der.
[Yahweh says this]: “I have destroyed [many] nations; I have destroyed their strong/high city walls and towers. [Now] I have caused the streets in those cities to be completely deserted [DOU]; the cities are ruined. There are no people [still alive] in the cities; they are all dead [LIT].
7 Jeg tænkte: "Den må dog frygte mig, tage mod Tugt; intet af alt, hvad jeg bød, vil gå den ad Glemme." Men des tidligere var de i Gang med al deres Ondskab.
[So] I thought [to myself], ‘[Because of what I have done to those other nations], surely the people [of Jerusalem] will revere me [now], and they will accept (my correcting them/my telling them to quit doing what is wrong). [If they do that, I] will not destroy their houses; I will not punish them like I said that I would do.’ But [in spite of knowing how I punished those other nations], they were still eager to get up early each morning and continue to do evil things.
8 Bi derfor på mig, så lyder det fra HERREN, på Dagen, jeg fremstår som Vidne! Thi min Ret er at sanke Folkene, samle Rigerne og udøse over dem min Vrede, al min Harmglød; thi af min Nidkærheds Ild skal al Jorden fortæres.
Therefore I, Yahweh, say, ‘Wait for the day in which I will testify [in court about your evil things].’ I have decided to gather the people of the kingdoms [of the earth] [DOU] and cause them to know that I am very angry with them. All [over] the earth I will punish and destroy people; my being angry with them because I (am jealous/want people to worship no other god) is [like] [MET] a (raging/very hot) fire.
9 Thi da vil jeg give Folkene rene Læber, så de alle påkalder HERREN og tjener ham endrægtigt.
When that happens, I will cause [all] people [MTY] to be changed and enable them to speak [only] what is (pure/pleasing to me), in order that everyone can worship me [MTY] and unitedly/together serve me [MTY].
10 Fra Landet hinsides Floden bringer de mig Bukke, fra Patros kommer de med Afgrødeoffer til mig.
[Then] my people who [were forced to go to other countries], those who live along the upper part of the [Nile] River in Ethiopia will come to me and bring offerings to me.
11 Hin bag skal du ikke beskæmmes i al din tid, med hvilken du synded mod mig; thi da vil jeg fjerne fra dig de jublende stolte, du skal ikke hovmode dig mer på mit hellige Bjerg.
At that time, you [people in Jerusalem] will no [longer] be ashamed [about what has happened to you], because you no longer will be rebelling against me. I will get rid of all the people among you who are very proud [DOU]. No one on [Zion], my holy hill, will [strut around] proudly.
12 Jeg levner i din Midte et Folk, som er ydmygt og ringe, og Israels Rest skal lide på HERRENs Navn.
Those who are still alive in Israel will be poor and humble; they will be people who trust in me [MTY].
13 Uret øver de ikke og taler ej Løgn, der findes ej i deres Mund en svigefuld Tunge; thi de skal græsse og raste uden at skræmmes.
Those people who are still alive [there] in Israel will not do [things that are] wrong; they will not tell lies or deceive [MTY] people. They will eat and sleep [safely], [because] no one will cause them to be afraid.”
14 Jubl, du Zions Datter, Israel, råb højt, glæd dig og fryd dig af hele dit Hjerte, Jerusalems Datter!
You people who live in Jerusalem [DOU] and [other places in] Israel, sing and shout loudly! Be glad, and rejoice [DOU] greatly,
15 HERREN har slettet din Dom, bortdrevet dine Fjender. I din Midte er Israels Konge, HERREN, ej mere skuer du ondt.
[because] Yahweh will stop punishing [MTY] you, and he will send away from you [the armies of] your enemies! And Yahweh [himself], the king of [us] Israeli people, will live among us, and never again will we be afraid that [others will] harm us.
16 På hin Dag skal der siges til Jerusalem: Frygt ikke, Zion, lad ikke Hænderne synke!
At that time, [other people] will say to us people of Jerusalem, “[You people of] [APO] Jerusalem, do not be afraid; do not become afraid or discouraged,
17 I dig er HERREN din Gud, en Helt, som frelser. Han glæder sig over dig med Fryd, han tier i sin Kærlighed, han fryder sig over dig med Jubel som på Festens Dag;
[because] Yahweh your God is [living] among you. He is mighty, and he will rescue/save you. He will be very happy with you; because he loves you, he will cause you to not be afraid; he will sing loudly to rejoice over you.”
18 den Tid er omme, da du bærer på Skam over ham.
[Yahweh says, ] “You people were sad and ashamed because [you were unable to attend] your religious festivals; but I will cause you to no longer be disgraced.
19 Se, på hin Tid gør jeg Ende på alle, som kuede dig, og jeg frelser, hvad der halter, og sanker det spredte og giver dem Ære og Ry på hele Jorden.
Truly, I will [severely] punish all those who (oppressed you/caused you to suffer). I will rescue those who are helpless and those who were forced to go to other countries. I will enable them to be praised and honored in every country to which they were (exiled/forced to go), places where they were disgraced.
20 På hin Tid bringer jeg eder hjem, og på hin Tid samler jeg eder; thi jeg giver eder Ry og Ære blandt alle Jordens Folkeslag, når jeg vender eders Skæbne for eders Øjne, siger HERREN.
At that time, I will gather you together and bring you [back] home [to Israel]. I will cause you to (have a good reputation/be honored) and be [greatly] praised among all the nations of the earth. You [MTY] will see me causing you to prosper again. [That will surely happen because I, ] Yahweh, have said it.”

< Zefanias 3 >