“Be silent!
Before Yahweh God!
The day of Yahweh
Is at hand.
Yahweh has prepared
A sacrifice.
He has consecrated
His guests.”
Zephaniah asked the people to be silent before Yahweh, their God, because the day of Yahweh was nearly there. Yahweh would prepare a sacrificial slaughter of these sinners. However, he would consecrate his invited guests on the day of Yahweh.
“Blow the trumpet
In Zion!
Sound the alarm
On my holy mountain!
Let all the inhabitants
Of the land
Tremble!
The day of Yahweh
Is coming!
It is near!”
The day of Yahweh was coming to Zion. Thus, they had to blow the ram’s horn or the trumpet. They had to sound the alarm on the holy mountain in Jerusalem. Everyone in the land should tremble, because the day of Yahweh was coming. In fact, the day was near.
“The word of Yahweh
Came to me.
‘Son of man!
Prophesy!
Say!
Thus says Yahweh God!
‘Wail!
Alas!
The day!
The day is near!
The day of Yahweh
Is near!
It will be
A day of clouds.
It will be
A time of doom
For the nations.’”
Once again, Yahweh came to Ezekiel, the son of man. He was to cry out that the judgment day of Yahweh was coming. This day of clouds and doom was near, so that the various nations should be on watch for this day.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 