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Zephaniah - Chapter 2

Translation and Transliteration of 

Listen to this chapter in Hebrew:

1Gather together, gather, O nation without shame,

hit-ko-SH'-shu va-ko-SHU ha-go-Y lo nikh-SAF

אהִֽתְקוֹשְׁשׁ֖וּ וָק֑וֹשּׁוּ הַגּ֖וֹי לֹ֥א נִכְסָֽף׃

2Before the day the decree is born— The day flies by like chaff— Before the fierce anger Of Hashem overtakes you, Before the day of anger Of Hashem overtakes you.

b'-TE-rem LE-det KHOK k'-MOTZ a-VAR YOM b'-TE-rem LO ya-VO a-LE-khem kha-RON aF a-do-NAI b'-TE-rem LO ya-VO a-LE-khem YOM aF a-do-NAI

בבְּטֶ֙רֶם֙ לֶ֣דֶת חֹ֔ק כְּמֹ֖ץ עָ֣בַר י֑וֹם בְּטֶ֣רֶם ׀ לֹא־יָב֣וֹא עֲלֵיכֶ֗ם חֲרוֹן֙ אַף־יְהֹוָ֔ה בְּטֶ֙רֶם֙ לֹא־יָב֣וֹא עֲלֵיכֶ֔ם י֖וֹם אַף־יְהֹוָֽה׃

3Seek Hashem,All you humble of the landWho have fulfilled His law;Seek righteousness,Seek humility.Perhaps you will find shelter On the day of Hashem's anger.

ba-k'-SHU et a-do-NAI kol an-VAY ha-A-retz a-SHER mish-pa-TO pa-A-lu ba-k'-shu TZE-dek ba-k'-SHU a-na-VAH u-LAI ti-sa-t'-RU b'-YOM af a-do-NAI

גבַּקְּשׁ֤וּ אֶת־יְהֹוָה֙ כׇּל־עַנְוֵ֣י הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר מִשְׁפָּט֖וֹ פָּעָ֑לוּ בַּקְּשׁוּ־צֶ֙דֶק֙ בַּקְּשׁ֣וּ עֲנָוָ֔ה אוּלַי֙ תִּסָּ֣תְר֔וּ בְּי֖וֹם אַף־יְהֹוָֽה׃

 2:3  Seek Hashem, all you humble of the land

The “humble of the land” are the few who rejected idolatry, quietly serving God in the Land of Israel despite the hardships. Tzefanya encourages them to continue their loyalty to Hashem despite the decree of destruction and exile soon to take effect. He uses the command “seek” three times: To seek the Lord, to seek righteousness, and to seek humility. The three go together. One cannot seek God without striving for righteousness, or without behaving with humility, since the way we treat others automatically affects how we treat God. If they continue to seek out Hashem, “Perhaps you will find shelter on the day of Hashem’s anger.” Tzefanya teaches that the safest refuge from God’s anger is with Hashem Himself.

4Indeed, Azza shall be deserted And Ashkelon desolate; Ashdod's people shall be expelled in broad daylight, And Ekron shall be uprooted.

ki a-ZAH a-zu-VAH ti-HE-yeh, v'-ash-ke-LON lish-ma-MAH, ash-DOD ba-tzo-ho-RA-yim ye-gar-SHU-ha, v'-e-k'-RON te-a-KER. (Se-la)

דכִּ֤י עַזָּה֙ עֲזוּבָ֣ה תִֽהְיֶ֔ה וְאַשְׁקְל֖וֹן לִשְׁמָמָ֑ה אַשְׁדּ֗וֹד בַּֽצׇּהֳרַ֙יִם֙ יְגָ֣רְשׁ֔וּהָ וְעֶקְר֖וֹן תֵּעָקֵֽר׃

5Ah, nation of Cherethites Who inhabit the seacoast! There is a word of Hashem against you, O Canaan, land of the Philistines: I will lay you waste Without inhabitants.

HOY yo-SHE-vei KHE-vel ha-YAM, GOY k'-RE-tim, d'-VAR a-do-NAI a-LE-khem, k'-NA-an E-retz p'-lish-TIM, v'-ha-a-vad-TEE-kh'-meh-ME-ein yo-SHEV.

הה֗וֹי יֹ֥שְׁבֵ֛י חֶ֥בֶל הַיָּ֖ם גּ֣וֹי כְּרֵתִ֑ים דְּבַר־יְהֹוָ֣ה עֲלֵיכֶ֗ם כְּנַ֙עַן֙ אֶ֣רֶץ פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים וְהַאֲבַדְתִּ֖יךְ מֵאֵ֥ין יוֹשֵֽׁב׃

6The seacoast Cheroth shall become An abode for shepherds and folds for flocks,

v'-ha-Y'-ta khe-VEL ha-YAM ne-VOT k'-ROT ro-EEM v'-gid-ROT tzo-AN

ווְֽהָיְתָ֞ה חֶ֣בֶל הַיָּ֗ם נְוֺ֛ת כְּרֹ֥ת רֹעִ֖ים וְגִדְר֥וֹת צֹֽאן׃

7And shall be a portion for the remnant of the House of Yehuda; On these [pastures] they shall graze [their flocks], They shall lie down at eventide In the houses of Ashkelon. For Hashem their God will take note of them And restore their fortunes.

v'-ha-YA khe-VEL lish-E-REET beit y'-hu-DAH a-le-HEM yir-UUN b'-ba-TEI ash-ke-LON ba-E-REV yir-BA-tzuun, kee yif-K'-DEM a-do-NAI e-lo-HEI-HEM v'-SHAV (SH'-VO-TEM) [sh'-vee-TAM]

זוְהָ֣יָה חֶ֗בֶל לִשְׁאֵרִ֛ית בֵּ֥ית יְהוּדָ֖ה עֲלֵיהֶ֣ם יִרְע֑וּן בְּבָתֵּ֣י אַשְׁקְל֗וֹן בָּעֶ֙רֶב֙ יִרְבָּצ֔וּן כִּ֧י יִפְקְדֵ֛ם יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֖ם וְשָׁ֥ב (שבותם) [שְׁבִיתָֽם]׃

8I have heard the insults of Moab And the jeers of the Amonites, Who have insulted My people And gloated over their country.

sha-MA-tee kher-PAT mo-AV v'-gi-DU-fei b'-NAY a-MON a-SHER kher-PU et a-MEE va-ya-GDI-lu al g'-vu-LAM

חשָׁמַ֙עְתִּי֙ חֶרְפַּ֣ת מוֹאָ֔ב וְגִדֻּפֵ֖י בְּנֵ֣י עַמּ֑וֹן אֲשֶׁ֤ר חֵֽרְפוּ֙ אֶת־עַמִּ֔י וַיַּגְדִּ֖ילוּ עַל־גְּבוּלָֽם׃

9Assuredly, as I live —declares the lord of Hosts, the God of Yisrael— Moab shall become like Sodom And the Amonites like Gomorrah: Clumps of weeds and patches of salt, And desolation evermore. The remnant of My people shall plunder them, The remainder o My nation shall possess them.

la-KHEN khai-a-NEE, n'-UM a-do-NAI tza-VA-OT, e-lo-HAY yis-ra-AYL, kee-mo-AV kis-DOM ti-HE-yah, u-ve-NAY a-MON ka-a-MO-rah, mi-m'-SHAK kha-RUL u-mikh-reh-ME-lakh u-she-ma-MAH ad-o-LAM, she-e-REET a-MEE ye-vo-ZUM, v'-ye-TER go-YIM yin-kha-LUM.

טלָכֵ֣ן חַי־אָ֡נִי נְאֻם֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה צְבָא֜וֹת אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל כִּי־מוֹאָ֞ב כִּסְדֹ֤ם תִּֽהְיֶה֙ וּבְנֵ֤י עַמּוֹן֙ כַּעֲמֹרָ֔ה מִמְשַׁ֥ק חָר֛וּל וּמִכְרֵה־מֶ֥לַח וּשְׁמָמָ֖ה עַד־עוֹלָ֑ם שְׁאֵרִ֤ית עַמִּי֙ יְבׇזּ֔וּם וְיֶ֥תֶר גּוֹיִ֖ יִנְחָלֽוּם׃

10That is what they'll get for their haughtiness, For insulting and jeering At the people of the lord of Hosts.

zo-TA la-HEM TA-khat g'-o-NAHM, KEE khe-RE-fu va-yag-DI-lu al aM a-do-NAI t'-va-OT

יזֹ֥את לָהֶ֖ם תַּ֣חַת גְּאוֹנָ֑ם כִּ֤י חֵֽרְפוּ֙ וַיַּגְדִּ֔לוּ עַל־עַ֖ם יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָאֽוֹת׃

11Hashem will show Himself terrible against them, Causing all the gods on earth to shrivel; And all the coastlands of the nations Shall bow down to Him— Every man in his own home.

no-RA a-do-NAI a-lay-HEM, KI ra-ZAH AYT kol e-lo-HAY ha-A-retz, v'-yish-ta-KHA-vu-LO eesh mi-m'-KO-mo, KOL i-YAY ha-go-YIM

יאנוֹרָ֤א יְהֹוָה֙ עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם כִּ֣י רָזָ֔ה אֵ֖ת כׇּל־אֱלֹהֵ֣י הָאָ֑רֶץ וְיִשְׁתַּֽחֲווּ־לוֹ֙ אִ֣ישׁ מִמְּקוֹמ֔וֹ כֹּ֖ל אִיֵּ֥י הַגּוֹיִֽם׃

12You Cushites too— They shall be slain by My sword.

gam-a-TEM ku-SHEEM khal-LEI khar-BEE heM-AH

יבגַּם־אַתֶּ֣ם כּוּשִׁ֔ים חַֽלְלֵ֥י חַרְבִּ֖י הֵֽמָּה׃

13And He will stretch out His arm against the north And destroy Assyria; He will make Nineveh a desolation, Arid as the desert.

v'-YET ya-DO al tza-FON vi-a-BED et a-SHUUR vi-ya-SEM et ni-N'-vay lish-MA-mah tzi-YAH ka-mid-BAR

יגוְיֵ֤ט יָדוֹ֙ עַל־צָפ֔וֹן וִֽיאַבֵּ֖ד אֶת־אַשּׁ֑וּר וְיָשֵׂ֤ם אֶת־נִֽינְוֵה֙ לִשְׁמָמָ֔ה צִיָּ֖ה כַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃

14In it flocks shall lie down, Every species of beast, While jackdaws and owls roost on its capitals, The great owl hoots in the window, And the raven [croaks] on the threshold. For he has stripped its cedarwork bare.

v'-ra-V'-tsu v'-to-KHA a-da-REEM kol-kha-y'-to-GO gam-ka-AT gam-ki-POD b'-khaf-to-RE-ha ya-LEE-nu KOL ye-sho-RAYR ba-kha-LOAN kho-REV ba-SAF kee ar-ZA e-RAH

ידוְרָבְצ֨וּ בְתוֹכָ֤הּ עֲדָרִים֙ כׇּל־חַיְתוֹ־ג֔וֹי גַּם־קָאַת֙ גַּם־קִפֹּ֔ד בְּכַפְתֹּרֶ֖יהָ יָלִ֑ינוּ ק֠וֹל יְשׁוֹרֵ֤ר בַּֽחַלּוֹן֙ חֹ֣רֶב בַּסַּ֔ף כִּ֥י אַרְזָ֖הֿ עֵרָֽה׃

15Is this the gay city That dwelt secure, That thought in her heart, “I am, and there is none but me”? Alas, she is become a waste, A lair of wild beasts! Everyone who passes by her Hisses and gestures with his hand.

zo-at ha-eeR ha-a-lee-ZAH ha-YO-she-VET la-BE-takh ha-o-ME-rah bil-va-VAH a-NEE v'-af-SEE OD AYKH ha-Y'-TAH l'-sha-MAH mar-BAYTS la-KHA-yah kol o-VAYR a-LE-ha yish-ROK ya-NEE-a ya-DO. (pey)

טוזֹ֞֠את הָעִ֤יר הָעַלִּיזָה֙ הַיּוֹשֶׁ֣בֶת לָבֶ֔טַח הָאֹֽמְרָה֙ בִּלְבָבָ֔הּ אֲנִ֖י וְאַפְסִ֣י ע֑וֹד אֵ֣יךְ ׀ הָיְתָ֣ה לְשַׁמָּ֗ה מַרְבֵּץ֙ לַֽחַיָּ֔ה כֹּ֚ל עוֹבֵ֣ר עָלֶ֔יהָ יִשְׁרֹ֖ק יָנִ֥יעַ יָדֽוֹ׃