King James Version

Zephaniah 1:12

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.

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Hebrew

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וְהָיָה֙vehayahand beהָיָהconjunction, verb, qal, sequential perfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “and be”, a completed action in a sequenceH1961to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use.בָּעֵ֣תbaetin whenעֵתpreposition, with the article, noun, common, both genders, singular, absolute — “in when”, the ordinary formH6256time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc.[phrase] after, (al-) ways, [idiom] certain, [phrase] continually, [phrase] evening, long, (due) season, so (long) as, (even-, evening-, noon-) tide, (meal-), what) time, when.הַהִ֔יאhahithe as for herהוּאdefinite article, pronoun, personal, 3rd person, feminine, singular — “the as for her”H1931he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or arehe, as for her, him(-self), it, the same, she (herself), such, that (...it), these, they, this, those, which (is), who.אֲחַפֵּ֥שׂachapeschangeחָפַשׂverb, piel, imperfect, 1st person, common, singular — “change”, an unfinished actionH2664to seek; causatively, to conceal oneself (i.e. let be sought), or maskchange, (make) diligent (search), disquise self, hide, search (for, out).אֶתetobject markerאֵתparticle, direct object marker — “object marker”H853properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)(as such unrepresented in English).יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖םyerushalimJerusalemיְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִםnoun, proper name — “Jerusalem”H3389Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of PalestineJerusalem.בַּנֵּר֑וֹתbanerotin lampנִירpreposition, with the article, noun, common, masculine, plural, absolute — “in lamp”, the ordinary formH5216a lamp (i.e. the burner) or light (literally or figuratively)candle, lamp, light.וּפָקַדְתִּ֣יufaqadtiand chargeפָּקַדconjunction, verb, qal, sequential perfect, 1st person, common, singular — “and charge”, a completed action in a sequenceH6485to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc.appoint, [idiom] at all, avenge, bestow, (appoint to have the, give a) charge, commit, count, deliver to keep, be empty, enjoin, go see, hurt, do judgment, lack, lay up, look, make, [idiom] by any means, miss, number, officer, (make) overs…עַלalaboveעַלpreposition — “above”H5921above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applicationsabove, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of,…הָאֲנָשִׁ֗יםhaanashimthe a certainאִישׁdefinite article, noun, common, masculine, plural, absolute — “the a certain”, the ordinary formH376a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phra…הַקֹּֽפְאִים֙haqofeimthe congealקָפָאdefinite article, verb, qal, participle, absolute — “the congeal”, a verb used as a describing wordH7087to shrink, i.e. thicken (as unracked wine, curdled milk, clouded sky, frozen water)congeal, curdle, dark, settle.עַלalaboveעַלpreposition — “above”H5921above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applicationsabove, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of,…שִׁמְרֵיהֶ֔םshimreyhemdregsשֶׁמֶרnoun, common, masculine, plural, construct, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, plural — “dregs”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH8105something preserved, i.e. the settlings (plural only) of winedregs, (wines on the) lees.הָאֹֽמְרִים֙haomerimthe sayאָמַרdefinite article, verb, qal, participle, absolute — “the say”, a verb used as a describing wordH559to say (used with great latitude)answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [id…בִּלְבָבָ֔םbilvavamin breastלֵבָבpreposition, noun, common, masculine, singular, construct, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, plural — “in breast”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH3824the heart (as the most interior organ);[phrase] bethink themselves, breast, comfortably, courage, ((faint), (tender-) heart(-ed), midst, mind, [idiom] unawares, understanding.לֹֽאlono , -r,לֹאparticle, negative — “no , -r,”H3808not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles[idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as trul…יֵיטִ֥יבyeytivbe acceptedיָטַבverb, hiphil, imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “be accepted”, an unfinished actionH3190to be (causative) make well, literally (sound, beautiful) or figuratively (happy, successful, right)be accepted, amend, use aright, benefit, be (make) better, seem best, make cheerful, be comely, [phrase] be content, diligent(-ly), dress, earnestly, find favour, give, be glad, do (be, make) good(-ness), be (make) merry, please ([phrase]…יְהוָ֖הyehvahJehovahיְהֹוָהnoun, proper name — “Jehovah”H3068Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodJehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה).וְלֹ֥אveloand no , -r,לֹאconjunction, particle, negative — “and no , -r,”H3808not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles[idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as trul…יָרֵֽעַyareabe worseרָעַעverb, hiphil, imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “be worse”, an unfinished actionH7489properly, to spoil (literally, by breaking to pieces); figuratively, to make (or be) good fornothing, i.e. bad (physically, socially or morally)afflict, associate selves (by mistake for H7462 (רָעָה)), break (down, in pieces), [phrase] displease, (be, bring, do) evil (doer, entreat, man), show self friendly (by mistake for H7462 (רָעָה)), do harm, (do) hurt, (behave self, deal) il…

Jewish translation (JPS 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.'

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

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.

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.

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.”

Darby Translation

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.

Douay-Rheims

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.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

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.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Καὶ ἔσται ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ, ἐξερευνήσω τὴν Ἱερουσαλὴμ μετὰ λύχνου, καὶ ἐκδικήσω ἐπὶ τοὺς ἄνδρας τοὺς καταφρονοῦντας ἐπὶ τὰ φυλάγματα αὐτῶν· οἱ δὲ λέγοντες ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις αὐτῶν, οὐ μὴ ἀγαθοποιήσῃ Κύριος, οὐδὲ μὴ κακώσῃ·