Zephaniah 1:12
New International Version
At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish those who are complacent, who are like wine left on its dregs, who think, ‘The LORD will do nothing, either good or bad.’

New Living Translation
“I will search with lanterns in Jerusalem’s darkest corners to punish those who sit complacent in their sins. They think the LORD will do nothing to them, either good or bad.

English Standard Version
At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the men who are complacent, those who say in their hearts, ‘The LORD will not do good, nor will he do ill.’

Berean Standard Bible
And at that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish the men settled in complacency, who say to themselves, ‘The LORD will do nothing, either good or bad.’

King James Bible
And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil.

New King James Version
“And it shall come to pass at that time That I will search Jerusalem with lamps, And punish the men Who are settled in complacency, Who say in their heart, ‘The LORD will not do good, Nor will He do evil.’

New American Standard Bible
“And it will come about at that time That I will search Jerusalem with lamps, And I will punish the people Who are stagnant in spirit, Who say in their hearts, ‘The LORD will not do good nor harm!’

NASB 1995
“It will come about at that time That I will search Jerusalem with lamps, And I will punish the men Who are stagnant in spirit, Who say in their hearts, ‘The LORD will not do good or evil!’

NASB 1977
“And it will come about at that time That I will search Jerusalem with lamps, And I will punish the men Who are stagnant in spirit, Who say in their hearts, ‘The LORD will not do good or evil!’

Legacy Standard Bible
And it will be at that time That I will search Jerusalem with lamps, And I will punish the men Who are stagnant in spirit, Who say in their hearts, ‘Yahweh will not do good or evil!’

Amplified Bible
“It will come about at that time That I will search Jerusalem with lamps And I will punish the men Who [like old wine] are stagnant in spirit, Who say in their hearts, ‘The LORD will not do good, nor will He do evil.’

Christian Standard Bible
And at that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish those who settle down comfortably, who say to themselves: The LORD will do nothing—good or bad.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
And at that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish the men who settle down comfortably, who say to themselves: The LORD will not do good or evil.

American Standard Version
And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with lamps; and I will punish the men that are settled on their lees, that say in their heart, Jehovah will not do good, neither will he do evil.

Contemporary English Version
I'll search Jerusalem with lamps and punish those people who sit there unworried while thinking, "The LORD won't do anything, good or bad."

English Revised Version
And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles; and I will punish the men that are settled on their lees, that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish those who are satisfied with their hardened lifestyle, who think that the LORD won't do anything-good or bad.

Good News Translation
"At that time I will take a lamp and search Jerusalem. I will punish the people who are self-satisfied and confident, who say to themselves, 'The LORD never does anything, one way or the other.'

International Standard Version
And it will come about that I will search Jerusalem with candles, punishing the self-satisfied and complacent, who say to themselves, 'The LORD will do neither good nor evil.'

Majority Standard Bible
And at that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish the men settled in complacency, who say to themselves, ‘The LORD will do nothing, either good or bad.’

NET Bible
At that time I will search through Jerusalem with lamps. I will punish the people who are entrenched in their sin, those who think to themselves, 'The LORD neither rewards nor punishes.'

New Heart English Bible
It will happen at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the men who are settled on their dregs, who say in their heart, "The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil."

Webster's Bible Translation
And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil.

World English Bible
It will happen at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the men who are settled on their dregs, who say in their heart, “Yahweh will not do good, neither will he do evil.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And it has come to pass at that time, "" I search Jerusalem with lights, "" And I have laid a charge on the men "" Who are hardened on their preserved things, "" Who are saying in their heart: YHWH does no good, nor does He do evil.

Young's Literal Translation
And it hath come to pass, at that time, I search Jerusalem with lights, And I have laid a charge on the men Who are hardened on their preserved things, Who are saying in their heart: Jehovah doth no good, nor doth He evil.

Smith's Literal Translation
And it was in that time, I will search out Jerusalem with lights, and I reviewed upon the men curdled upon their lees, saying in their heart, Jehovah will do good and not evil.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and will visit upon the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their hearts: The Lord will not do good, nor will he do evil.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And this shall be in that time: I will scrutinize Jerusalem with lamps, and I will visit upon the men who have become stuck in the dregs, who say in their hearts, “The Lord will not do good, and he will not do evil.”

New American Bible
At that time, I will search Jerusalem with lamps, I will punish the people who settle like dregs in wine, Who say in their hearts, “The Lord will not do good, nor will he do harm.”

New Revised Standard Version
At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the people who rest complacently on their dregs, those who say in their hearts, “The LORD will not do good, nor will he do harm.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And it shall come to pass at that time that I will search Jerusalem with a lamp and punish the men who despise their watchmen, who say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And will be in that time, says LORD JEHOVAH, I shall search Jerusalem with a lamp and I shall indict against the men who despise their Watchmen and they say in their heart: “LORD JEHOVAH does no good, neither does evil!”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And it shall come to pass at that time, That I will search Jerusalem with lamps; And I will punish the men that are settled on their lees, That say in their heart: 'The LORD will not do good, neither will He do evil.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will search Jerusalem with a candle, and will take vengeance on the men that despise the things committed to them; but they say in their hearts, The Lord will not do any good, neither will he do any evil.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Day of the LORD
11Wail, O dwellers of the Hollow, for all your merchants will be silenced; all who weigh out silver will be cut off. 12And at that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish the men settled in complacency, who say to themselves, ‘The LORD will do nothing, either good or bad.’ 13Their wealth will be plundered and their houses laid waste. They will build houses but not inhabit them, and plant vineyards but never drink their wine.…

Cross References
Jeremiah 48:11
Moab has been at ease from youth, settled like wine on its dregs; he has not been poured from vessel to vessel or gone into exile. So his flavor has remained the same, and his aroma is unchanged.

Amos 6:1
Woe to those at ease in Zion and those secure on Mount Samaria, the distinguished ones of the foremost nation, to whom the house of Israel comes.

Revelation 3:15-16
I know your deeds; you are neither cold nor hot. How I wish you were one or the other! / So because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to vomit you out of My mouth!

Isaiah 32:9-11
Stand up, you complacent women; listen to me. Give ear to my word, you overconfident daughters. / In a little more than a year you will tremble, O secure ones. For the grape harvest will fail and the fruit harvest will not arrive. / Shudder, you ladies of leisure; tremble, you daughters of complacency. Strip yourselves bare and put sackcloth around your waists.

Ezekiel 8:12
“Son of man,” He said to me, “do you see what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the darkness, each at the shrine of his own idol? For they are saying, ‘The LORD does not see us; the LORD has forsaken the land.’”

Malachi 3:15
So now we call the arrogant blessed. Not only do evildoers prosper, they even test God and escape.’”

Psalm 10:11
He says to himself, “God has forgotten; He hides His face and never sees.”

Amos 9:3-4
Though they hide themselves atop Carmel, there I will track them and seize them; and though they hide from Me at the bottom of the sea, there I will command the serpent to bite them. / Though they are driven by their enemies into captivity, there I will command the sword to slay them. I will fix My eyes upon them for harm and not for good.”

Jeremiah 5:12-13
They have lied about the LORD and said: “He will not do anything; harm will not come to us; we will not see sword or famine. / The prophets are but wind, for the word is not in them. So let their own predictions befall them.”

Luke 12:45-46
But suppose that servant says in his heart, ‘My master will be a long time in coming,’ and he begins to beat the menservants and maidservants, and to eat and drink and get drunk. / The master of that servant will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not anticipate. Then he will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.

Matthew 24:48-51
But suppose that servant is wicked and says in his heart, ‘My master will be away a long time.’ / And he begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. / The master of that servant will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not anticipate. ...

Isaiah 42:25
So He poured out on them His furious anger and the fierceness of battle. It enveloped them in flames, but they did not understand; it consumed them, but they did not take it to heart.

Job 21:14-15
Yet they say to God: ‘Leave us alone! For we have no desire to know Your ways. / Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him, and what would we gain if we pray to Him?’

2 Peter 3:4
“Where is the promise of His coming?” they will ask. “Ever since our fathers fell asleep, everything continues as it has from the beginning of creation.”

Isaiah 5:19
to those who say, “Let Him hurry and hasten His work so that we may see it! Let the plan of the Holy One of Israel come so that we may know it!”


Treasury of Scripture

And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil.

that I.

Jeremiah 16:16,17
Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the LORD, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks…

Amos 9:1-3
I saw the Lord standing upon the altar: and he said, Smite the lintel of the door, that the posts may shake: and cut them in the head, all of them; and I will slay the last of them with the sword: he that fleeth of them shall not flee away, and he that escapeth of them shall not be delivered…

Obadiah 1:6
How are the things of Esau searched out! how are his hidden things sought up!

the men.

Jeremiah 48:11
Moab hath been at ease from his youth, and he hath settled on his lees, and hath not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither hath he gone into captivity: therefore his taste remained in him, and his scent is not changed.

Amos 6:1
Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came!

Revelation 2:23
And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

settled.

Job 21:15
What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

Psalm 10:11-13
He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it

Psalm 14:1
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

Jump to Previous
Bad Charge Complacent Dregs Either Evil Good Hardened Heart Hearts Ill Jerusalem Lamps Preserved Punish Punishment Search Searching Settled Spirit Stagnant Stored Think Time Wine
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Bad Charge Complacent Dregs Either Evil Good Hardened Heart Hearts Ill Jerusalem Lamps Preserved Punish Punishment Search Searching Settled Spirit Stagnant Stored Think Time Wine
Zephaniah 1
1. The time when Zephaniah prophesied.
2. God's severe judgments against Judah.














At that time
This phrase indicates a specific moment in divine timing, often referred to as "the day of the LORD" in prophetic literature. It underscores God's sovereign control over history and His ability to act decisively at the appointed time. The Hebrew word for "time" (עֵת, 'et) suggests a fixed, appointed period, emphasizing the certainty and inevitability of God's intervention.

I will search Jerusalem with lamps
The imagery of searching with lamps conveys a thorough and meticulous examination. In ancient times, lamps were used to illuminate dark places, symbolizing God's penetrating insight into the hidden sins of Jerusalem. The Hebrew verb "search" (חָפַשׂ, chaphas) implies an active and diligent investigation, highlighting God's omniscience and His commitment to uncovering all that is concealed.

and punish the men settled in complacency
The phrase "settled in complacency" refers to those who are spiritually stagnant and indifferent. The Hebrew word for "complacency" (שֶׁמֶר, shemer) can also mean "dregs" or "lees," suggesting a state of being undisturbed and unrefined, like wine left to settle. This metaphor indicates a lack of spiritual vitality and responsiveness, which God finds unacceptable. The act of punishment underscores God's justice and His intolerance for spiritual apathy.

who say in their hearts
This expression reveals the inner thoughts and attitudes of the people, which are often hidden from human view but fully known to God. The heart, in Hebrew thought, is the center of one's being, encompassing mind, will, and emotions. This phrase highlights the importance of internal belief and attitude, not just external actions, in one's relationship with God.

‘The LORD will do nothing, either good or bad.’
This statement reflects a cynical and skeptical attitude towards God's involvement in the world. It suggests a belief in divine indifference or impotence, which is a grave misunderstanding of God's nature. The Hebrew word for "nothing" (לֹא, lo) emphasizes the absolute denial of God's active role in human affairs. This attitude is a direct challenge to the biblical portrayal of God as both sovereign and just, actively engaged in the world He created.

Verse 12. - The third class which shall be smitten, viz. the profligate and riotous. I will search Jerusalem with candles (lights). No evil doer shall escape. The enemy whom God summons to execute his wrath shall leave no corner unsearched where the debauchees hide themselves (comp. Luke 15:8). Jerome and commentators after him refer to Josephus's account of the last siege of Jerusalem for a parallel to these predicted proceedings of the Chaldeans. Here we read how princes and priests and chieftains were dragged from sewers, and pits, and caves, and tombs, where they had hidden themselves in fear of death, and were mercilessly slain wherever they were found (Josephus, 'Bell. Jud.,' 6:09). The men that are settled on their lees; i.e. confirmed, hardened, and inveterate in their evil habits. The metaphor is derived from old wine not racked off; which retains all its flavour and odour, and becomes thick and viscid (see Isaiah 25:6; Jeremiah 48:11). The LXX. paraphrases, Υοὺς καταφρονοῦντας ἐπὶ τὰ φυλάγματα αὐτῶν, which Jerome renders, qui contemnunt custodias suas. That say in their heart. They do not openly scoff at religion, but think within themselves these infidel thoughts. The Lord will not do good, ere. Just what God says of idols (Isaiah 41:23). These "fools" (Psalm 14:1) deny God's moral government of the world; they will not see the working of Divine providence in all that happens, but, secure and careless in their worldly prosperity, they assign all events to chance or natural law, placing Jehovah in the same category as the idols worshipped by heathens (comp. Job 22:12, etc.; Psalm 10:4, etc.; Psalms 94:7).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And
וְהָיָה֙ (wə·hā·yāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

at that
הַהִ֔יא (ha·hî)
Article | Pronoun - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

time
בָּעֵ֣ת (bā·‘êṯ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 6256: Time, now, when

I will search
אֲחַפֵּ֥שׂ (’ă·ḥap·pêś)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 2664: To seek, to conceal oneself, mask

Jerusalem
יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם (yə·rū·šā·lim)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3389: Jerusalem -- probably 'foundation of peace', capital city of all Israel

with lamps
בַּנֵּר֑וֹת (ban·nê·rō·wṯ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5216: A lamp, light

and punish
וּפָקַדְתִּ֣י (ū·p̄ā·qaḏ·tî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 6485: To visit, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit

the men
הָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים (hā·’ă·nā·šîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

settled
הַקֹּֽפְאִים֙ (haq·qō·p̄ə·’îm)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 7087: To thicken, condense, congeal

in
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

complacency,
שִׁמְרֵיהֶ֔ם (šim·rê·hem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 8105: Something preserved, the settlings, of wine

who say
הָאֹֽמְרִים֙ (hā·’ō·mə·rîm)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to themselves,
בִּלְבָבָ֔ם (bil·ḇā·ḇām)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3824: Inner man, mind, will, heart

‘The LORD
יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

will do nothing,
לֹֽא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

either good
יֵיטִ֥יב (yê·ṭîḇ)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3190: To be good, well, glad, or pleasing

or ill.’
יָרֵֽעַ׃ (yā·rê·a‘)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7489: To spoil, to make, good for, nothing, bad


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OT Prophets: Zephaniah 1:12 It will happen at that time that (Zeph. Zep Zp)
Zephaniah 1:11
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