Zephaniah 3

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text tradition, which includes the Codex Cairensis (895), the Petersburg Codex of the Prophets (916), Aleppo Codex (10th century[lower-alpha 1]), and Codex Leningradensis (1008).[7] Fragments containing parts of this chapter in Hebrew were found among the Dead Sea Scrolls, including 4Q77 (4QXII^b; 150–125 BCE) with extant verses 19–20;[8][9][10] 4Q78 (4QXII^c; 75–50 BCE) with extant verses 1–2;[9][10][11] 4Q82 (4QXII^g; 25 BCE) with extant verses 3–5;[9][12][11] and Wadi Murabba'at Minor Prophets (Mur88; MurXIIProph; 75-100 CE) with extant verses 1–6, 8–20.[9][13]

There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BCE. Extant ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint version include Codex Vaticanus (B; ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {G}}}$^B; 4th century), Codex Sinaiticus (S; BHK: ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {G}}}$^S; 4th century), Codex Alexandrinus (A; ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {G}}}$^A; 5th century) and Codex Marchalianus (Q; ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {G}}}$^Q; 6th century).[14] Fragments containing parts of this chapter in Greek (a revision of the Septuagint) were found among the Dead Sea Scrolls, that is, Naḥal Ḥever (8ḤevXII^gr; 1st century CE) with extant verses 6–7.[9][15]

"Therefore wait for Me," says the Lord,

"Until the day I rise up for plunder;

My determination is to gather the nations

To My assembly of kingdoms,

To pour on them My indignation,

All My fierce anger;

All the earth shall be devoured

With the fire of My jealousy."[16]

• "For plunder": or "for witness" in Greek Septuagint and Syriac version; Targum reads "for the day of My revelation for judgment"; Vulgate has "for the day of My resurrection that is to come"[17]

"For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language,

That they all may call on the name of the Lord,

To serve Him with one accord."[18]

• "Language": literally, "lip",[19] from Hebrew: שָׂפָ֣ה, śā-p̄āh[20]

In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:

"Do not fear;

Zion, let not your hands be weak.[21]

• "Let not your hands be weak" - "Let not thine hands be slack" (KJV) — cited (paraphrased) in Hebrews 12:12.

The Lord your God in your midst,

The Mighty One, will save;

He will rejoice over you with gladness,

He will quiet you with His love,

He will rejoice over you with singing."[22]

• "The Mighty One, will save" is translated from Hebrew: גבור יושיע gib-bōr yō-shî-a'. The word "gibbor" (= "mighty"), here as an attribute of God, is used in Isaiah 9:6 as one of the attributes of Messiah, who "has all power in heaven and earth"; whereas the word "yoshia" has the same root verb "yasha" (="to save"), the main theme of this passage.[23]