the Week of Proper 24 / Ordinary 29
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New Living Translation
Zephaniah 1:12
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"At that time I will take a lamp and search through Jerusalem. I will find all those who are satisfied to live their own way. They say, ‘The Lord does nothing. He does not help, and he does not hurt!' I will find them, and I will punish them.
"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!'
At that time I, the Lord , will search Jerusalem with lamps. I will punish those who are satisfied with themselves, who think, ‘The Lord won't help us or punish us.'
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, Yahweh will not do good, neither will he do evil.
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.
"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.'
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.'
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."
And it schal be, in that tyme Y schal seke Jerusalem with lanternes, and Y schal visite on alle men piyt in her darstis, whiche seien in her hertis, The Lord schal not do wel, and he schal not do yuele.
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.
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 ill.'
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."
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.
And it will come about at that time, that I will go searching through Jerusalem with lights; and I will send punishment on the men who have become like wine stored over-long, who say to themselves, The Lord will not do good and will not do evil.
When that time comes, I will search Yerushalayim with lamps and punish those who are [smug and thick, like wine] left too long on its dregs, who say to themselves, ‘ Adonai will do nothing — neither good nor bad.'
And it shall come to pass at that time, [that] I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and punish the men that are settled on their lees, that say in their heart, Jehovah will not do good, neither will he do evil.
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.'
And it shall come to passe at that time, that I wil search Ierusalem with candles, and punish the men that are setled on their lees, that say in their heart, The Lord will not doe good, neither will he doe euill.
At that time I will look through Jerusalem with a light and will punish those who take it easy and do not care what happens. They say in their hearts, ‘The Lord will not do good or bad.'
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."
And at that time will I searche Ierusalem with lightes, and visite the men that are frosen in their dregges, & say in their heartes, The Lord will neither doe good nor doe euill.
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.
And it shall come to pass, at that time, that I will search through Jerusalem, with lamps, - and will punish the men who are thickened upon their lees, who are saying in their heart, Yahweh, will not give blessing, neither will he bring calamity.
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.
At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the men who are thickening upon their lees, those who say in their hearts, 'The LORD will not do good, nor will he do ill.'
At the same time will I searche Hierusalem with lanternes, and visite them that continue in their dregges, and say in their heartes, Tush, the Lorde will do neither good nor euyll.
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.
"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.'
And at that time I will search Jerusalem with lampsand punish those who settle down comfortably,who say to themselves:The Lord will not do good or evil.
It will happen at that time, that I will search Yerushalayim 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."
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.
And it shall be that at that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the men whose senses are dulled from drinking, who say in their hearts, ‘Yahweh will not do good, nor will he do evil.'
And it shall be in that time, I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and punish the men being settled on their lees; who say in their heart, Jehovah will not do good, nor will He do evil.
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.
At the same tyme wil I seke thorow Ierusalem with lanternes, and vyset them that contynue in their dregges, and saye in their hertes: Tush, the LORDE wil do nether good ner euell.
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.'
"And it shall come to pass at that timeThat I will search Jerusalem with lamps,And punish the menWho are settled in complacency, [fn] Who say in their heart,'The Lord will not do good,Nor will He do evil.'
"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!'
And it will be at that timeThat I will search Jerusalem with lamps,And I will punish the menWho are stagnant in spirit,Who say in their hearts,‘Yahweh will not do good or evil!'
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
that I: Jeremiah 16:16, Jeremiah 16:17, Amos 9:1-3, Obadiah 1:6
the men: Jeremiah 48:11, Amos 6:1, Revelation 2:23
settled: Heb. curded, or thickened
The Lord: Job 21:15, Psalms 10:11-13, Psalms 14:1, Psalms 94:7, Isaiah 5:19, Jeremiah 10:5, Ezekiel 8:12, Ezekiel 9:9, Malachi 3:14, Malachi 3:15, 2 Peter 3:4
Reciprocal: Genesis 18:21 - see Job 10:6 - General Job 10:17 - changes Job 22:13 - doth God know Psalms 10:15 - seek Psalms 55:19 - no changes Psalms 73:11 - How Psalms 139:4 - there is not Isaiah 5:18 - draw Isaiah 28:15 - We have Isaiah 29:15 - seek Jeremiah 13:22 - if Jeremiah 23:17 - No Daniel 4:4 - was Malachi 2:17 - Where Matthew 22:11 - when Mark 11:11 - when
Cross-References
God called the dry ground "land" and the waters "seas." And God saw that it was good.
Then God said, "Let the land sprout with vegetation—every sort of seed-bearing plant, and trees that grow seed-bearing fruit. These seeds will then produce the kinds of plants and trees from which they came." And that is what happened.
Then God said, "Let the earth produce every sort of animal, each producing offspring of the same kind—livestock, small animals that scurry along the ground, and wild animals." And that is what happened.
Then God said, "Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground."
The Sovereign Lord will show his justice to the nations of the world. Everyone will praise him! His righteousness will be like a garden in early spring, with plants springing up everywhere.
The earth produces the crops on its own. First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens.
A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thornbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes.
For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.
Don't be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
And it shall come to pass at that time, [that] I will search Jerusalem with candles,.... To find out the sins of the inhabitants of it, and the authors of them, and punish them for them, however hid and concealed from the eyes of others, or thought to be: this must be understood consistent with the omniscience of God, who knows all persons and things; nothing is hid from him; men may fancy their sins are hid, being privately and secretly committed; but all will be manifest, sooner or later; if not now, yet at the day of judgment; and sometimes they are made manifest by God in this life, as here; for what the Lord here says he would do, he did it by instruments, by the Chaldeans, whom he sent to Jerusalem; and to whom the gates of the city, the doors of houses, and the innermost recesses of them, were opened and plundered by them; and all for the sins of the people, which were hereby exposed. So the Targum,
"and it shall be at that time that I will appoint searchers, and they shall search Jerusalem, as they that search with candles;''
and no doubt but this was literally true of the Chaldeans, who with candles might search vaults and cellars, and such like dark places, where they supposed goods and riches were concealed. The allusion may be to the searching with lamps for leaven on the fourteenth of Nisan, when the passover began, in every corner of a house, and, when they found it, burnt it u; or in general to searching for anything which lies concealed in dark places, where the light of the sun comes not, and can only be discovered by the light of candles; and denotes that nothing should escape the sight and knowledge of God, by whom a full discovery would be made of their persons and sins, and cognizance taken of them in a vindictive way, as follows:
and punish the men that are settled on their lees; like wine on the lees, quiet and undisturbed; in a good outward estate and condition, abounding in wealth and riches, and trusting therein; and which, as the Targum paraphrases it, they enjoy in great tranquillity; Moab like, having never been emptied from vessel to vessel, Jeremiah 48:11 and so concluded they should ever remain in the same state, and became hardened in sin, or "curdled", and thickened, as the word w signifies; and were unconcerned about the state of religion, or the state of their own souls; and fearless and thoughtless of the judgments of God; but should now be visited, disturbed in their tranquil state, and be troubled and punished:
that say in their heart; not daring to express with their lips the following atheism and blasphemy; but God, who searched and tried their hearts, knew it:
The Lord will not do good, neither will he do evil; which is a flat denial of his providence; saying that he takes no notice of what is done by men on earth, whether good or bad; and neither rewards the one, nor punishes the other. So the Targum, as Kimchi quotes it,
"it is not the good pleasure of God to do good to the righteous, or to do evil to the wicked;''
than which nothing is more false! the Lord does good to all in a providential way, and to many in a way of special grace; and rewards with a reward of grace all good men, both here and hereafter; and though he does not do any moral evil, yet he executes the evil of punishment in this world, and in that to come, on evildoers.
u Vid. Misn. Pesachim, c. 1. sect. 1, 4. w הקפאים "concreti sunt", Junius Tremellius, Piscator "congelati", Calvin; "coagulatos", Montanus, Cocceius; "qui concreverunt glaciei, [vel] casei ad instar", Burkius.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
I will search - (Literally, “diligently”). The word is always used of a minute diligent search, whereby places, persons, things, are searched and sifted one by one in every corner, until it be found whether a thing be there or no . Hence, also of the searching out of every thought of the heart, either by God Proverbs 20:27, or in repentance by the light of God Lamentations 3:40.
Jerusalem with candles - so that there should be no corner, no lurking-place so dark, but that the guilty should be brought to light. The same diligence, which Eternal Wisdom used, to “seek and to save that which was lost Luke 15:8, lighting a candle and searching diligently,” until it find each lost piece of silver, the same shall Almighty God use that no hardened sinner shall escape. Cyril: “What the enemy would do, using unmingled phrensy against the conquered, that God fitteth to His own Person, not as being Himself the Doer of things so foreign, but rather permitting that what comes from anger should proceed in judgment against the ungodly.” It was an image of this, when, at the taking of Jerusalem by the Romans, they “dragged out of common sewers and holes and caves and tombs, princes and great men and priests, who for fear of death had hid themselves.”
How much more in that Day when “the secrets of all hearts shalt be revealed” by Him who “searcheth the hearts and reins, and to Whose Eyes” Psalms 7:9; Psalms 26:2; Jeremiah 11:20; Jeremiah 17:10; Jeremiah 20:12; Revelation 2:23, “which are like flashing Fire, all things are naked and open!” Revelation 1:14. The candles wherewith God searcheth the heart, are men’s own consciences Proverbs 20:27, His Own revealed word Psalms 119:104; Pro 6:23; 2 Peter 1:19, the lives of true Christians Philippians 2:15. Those, through the Holy Spirit in each, may enlighten the heart of man, or, if he takes not heed, will rise in judgment against him, and show the falsehood of all vain excuses. : “One way of escape only there is. If we judge ourselves, we shall not be judged. I will “search out my” own “ways” and my desires, that He who “shall search out Jerusalem with candles,” may find nothing in me, unsought and unsifted. For He will not twice judge the same thing. Would that I might so follow and track out all my offences, that in none I need fear His piercing Eyes, in none be ashamed at the light of His candles! Now I am seen, but I see not. At hand is that Eye, to whom all things are open, although Itself is not open. Once “I shall know, even as I am known” 1 Corinthians 13:12. Now “I know in part,” but I am not known in part, but wholly.”
The men that are settled on their lees - Stiffened and contracted . The image is from wine which becomes harsh, if allowed to remain upon the lees, unremoved. It is drawn out by Jeremiah, “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” Jeremiah 48:11. So they upon whom “no changes come, fear not God (see Psalms 55:19). The lees are the refuse of the wine, yet stored up (so the word means) with it, and the wine rests, as it were, upon them. So do men of ease rest in things defiled and defiling, their riches or their pleasure, which they hoard up, on which they are bent, so that they, Dionysius: “lift not their mind to things above, but, darkened with foulest desires, are hardened and stiffened in sin.”
That say in their heart - Not openly scoffing, perhaps thinking that they believe; but people “do” believe as they love. Their most inward belief, the belief of their heart and affections, what they wish, and the hidden spring of their actions, is, “The Lord will not do good, neither will He do evil.” They act as believing so, and by acting inure themselves to believe it. They think of God as far away, “Is not God in the height of heaven? And behold the height of the stars, how high they are! And thou sayest, How doth God know? Can He judge through the dark cloud? Thick goads are a covering to Him, that He seeth not; and He walketh in the circuit of heaven” Job 22:12-14, “The ungodly in the pride of his heart” (thinketh); “He will not inquire; all his devices” (speak), “There is no God. Strong are his ways at all times; on high are Thy judgments out of his sight” Psalms 10:4-5. “They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless, and they say, The Lord shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it” Psalms 94:5-6.
“Such things they did imagine and were deceived, for their own wickedness blinded them. As for the mysteries of God, they knew them not” (Wisd. 2:21-22). “Faith without works is dead” James 2:20. Faith which acts not dies out, and there comes in its stead this other persuasion, that God will not repay. There are more Atheists than believe themselves to be such. These act as if there were no Judge of their deeds, and at last come, themselves to believe that God will not punish Isaiah 5:19; Malachi 2:17. What else is the thought of all worldlings, of all who make idols to themselves of any pleasure or gain or ambition, but “God will not punish?” “God cannot punish the (wrongful, selfish,) indulgence of the nature which He has made.” “God will not be so precise.” “God will not punish with everlasting severance from Him, the sins of this short life.” And they see not that they ascribe to God, what He attributes to idols that is, not-gods. “Do good or do evil, that we may be dismayed and behold it together” . “Be not afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good” Jeremiah 10:5. These think not that God does good, for they ascribe their success to their own diligence, wisdom, strength, and thank not God for it. They think not that He sends them evil. For they defy Him and His laws, and think that they shall go unpunished. What remains but that He should be as dumb an idol as those of the pagan?
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Zephaniah 1:12. I will search Jerusalem with candles — I will make a universal and thorough search.
That are settled on their lees — Those who are careless, satisfied with the goods of this life; who trust in their riches, and are completely irreligious; who, while they acknowledge that there is a God, think, like the Aristotelians, that he is so supremely happy in the contemplation of his own excellences, that he feels it beneath his dignity to concern himself with the affairs of mortals.
