This verse is a comment by the prophet, and translators may make this explicit if necessary. It summarizes the fate announced in the two previous verses.

This shall be their lot: here the word lot means “fate” or “destiny.” Good News Translation renders as “That is how … will be punished.” In languages which do not use the passive, this may be rendered as “that is how the LORD will punish….”

The phrase for their pride may be also expressed as “because they are proud.” Good News Translation has used the word “arrogance” to show what this pride involved. These arrogant people always looked down on others and tried to run their lives. Other English words with similar meanings are “domineering” or “overbearing.”

The terms here translated scoffed and boasted are the same Hebrew words as those translated “taunted” and “made boasts” in verse 8. As in verse 8, insults against the people of the LORD of hosts are seen as practically the same as insults against the LORD himself.

Another possible translation model for this verse is:

• That is how the LORD Almighty will punish the people of Moab and Ammon because they are proud and arrogant, and because they have insulted his people.

Quoted with permission from Clark, David J. & Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on the Book of Zephaniah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1989. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .