Introduction to Zephaniah (Pioneer Bible Translators)

(Pioneer Bible Translators and The Word for the World use the following introduction in many of their translation projects around the world.)

This book contains the prophecies of Zephaniah. Zephaniah was a descendant of King Hezekiah. He prophesied during the reign of King Josiah, which was between 640 and 609 B.C. This was the same time that Jeremiah and Nahum were alive. This was also before the nation of Assyria had been conquered (2:13). Zephaniah’s message was directed to the nation of Judah after the nation of Israel had already been conquered.

Zephaniah spoke about a coming day of judgement where God would punish Judah as well as the other nations of the world. This punishment would purify the people (3:9), and God would restore some of the people — those who were humble and lowly.

Outline:

1. In chapter 1:1 Zephaniah is introduced.
2. Chapter 1:2-2:3 states that God will punish Judah.
3. Chapter 2:4-2:15 says that God will punish the nations of the world.
4. Chapter 3 explains that God will restore some of the people who remain — the humble and lowly.

This work is owned by Pioneer Bible Translators International and The World for the World International and licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License .

Translation: French

Introduction à Sophonie

Ce livre contient les prophéties de Sophonie, descendant du roi Ezéchias. Il a prophétisé au règne du roi Josias qui s’est déroulé entre 640 et 609 av. J.-C. C’était pendant la même époque où vivaient Jérémie et Nahum. C’était aussi avant que la nation d’Assyrie ait été conquise. Le message de Sophonie était à l’intention de la nation de Juda après que la nation d’Israël avait déjà été conquise.

Sophonie parlait d’un jour de jugement à venir où Dieu punirait Juda aussi bien que les autres nations du monde. Cette punition purifierait le peuple (3.9), et Dieu rétablirait une partie du peuple – ceux qui étaient humbles et modestes.

Résumé de Sophonie

1. Au chapitre 1.1, Sophonie est présenté.
2. Les chapitres 1.2 à 2.3 déclarent que Dieu punira Juda.
3. Le chapitre 2.4-15 dit que Dieu punira les nations du monde.
4. Le chapitre 3 explique que Dieu rétablira une partie du peuple qui restera – les humbles et modestes.

Translation: Swahili

Utangulizi kwa Zefania

Kitabu hiki kina unabii wa Zefania. Zefania alikuwa mzao wa Mfalme Hezekia. Alitabiri wakati wa utawala wa Mfalme Yosia, ambayo ilikuwa kati ya mwaka 640 na 609 K.K.(kabla ya kristo). Hii ilikuwa wakati ule ule ambao Yeremia na Nahumu walipokuwa hai. Hii ilikuwa pia kabla ya taifa la Ashuru kutekwa (2:13). Ujumbe wa Zefania ulielekezwa kwa taifa la Yuda baada ya taifa la Israeli kuwa tayari limeshindwa.

Zefania alizungumza juu ya siku ya hukumu inayokuja ambapo Mungu angewaadhibu Yuda na mataifa mengine ya ulimwengu. Adhabu hii ingewatakasa watu (3:9), na Mungu angewarejesha baadhi ya watu - wale ambao walikuwa wanyenyekevu na wanyonge.

Muhtasari:

1. Katika sura ya 1: 1 Zefania anatambulishwa.
2. Sura ya 1: 2-2: 3 inasema kwamba Mungu atamwadhibu Yuda.
3. Sura ya 2: 4-2: 15 inasema kwamba Mungu atayaadhibu mataifa ya ulimwengu.
4. Sura ya 3 inaelezea kwamba Mungu atawarudisha baadhi ya watu waliosalia - wanyenyekevu na wanyonge.

Introduction to Zephaniah (Christian Community Bible)

(The Catholic Christian Community Bible [first English edition 1997, other translations into Indonesian, Chinese, Cebuano, Chavacano, French, Ilonggo, Korean, Quechuan, Spanish, and Tagalog] “for the Christian Communities of the Third World” uses the following introduction.)

Around the year 630, Zephaniah’s breaks the silence of the seventy year lull during which they had not heard the word of God. Isaiah concluded his mission around 690, and after that the faithful of Judah went through more than fifty years of persecution in the reign of Manasseh.

Down below are the introductions in the Mandarin Chinese, Tagalog, Cebuano, and Spanish editions.

Translation: Mandarin Chinese

大约在公元前630年，经过了七十年没有听到天主圣言的日子，索福尼亚的声音打破了沉寂。依撒意亚约在公元前690年左右完成了他的使命，自此之后，犹大的信众在默纳舍统治的时代经历了五十多年的迫害。

Translation: Tagalog

Mga taong 630, binasag ng tinig ni Sofonias ang katahimikan pagkaraan ng pitumpung taong hindi naririnig ang salita ng Diyos. Mga taong 690 nang matapos ni Isaias ang kanyang misyon, at pagkatapos niyon, mahigit sa limampung taon ng pag-uusig sa ilalim ng paghahari ni Manases ang dinanas ng mga sumasampalatayang taga-Juda.

Translation: Cebuano

Sa mga tuig 630, ang tingog ni Sofonias mibuak sa kahilom, human sa 70 ka tuig nga wala madungog ang tingog sa Ginoo. Si Isaias mitapos sa iyang misyon sa tuig 690, ug human adto, ang mga matoohon sa Juda miagi sa kapin sa 50 ka tuig sa panglutos sa paghari ni Manases.

Translation: Spanish

En el año 630, más o menos, la voz de Sofonías vino a romper el silencio después de sesenta años en que no se había oído la Palabra de Dios. Pues Isaías terminó su misión alrededor del año 690 y después los creyentes del país de Judá conocieron más de cincuenta años de persecución con el reinado de Manasés.

Sofonías habla para decir que la paciencia de Yavé no soporta más y que va a purificar a Jerusalén, destruyendo a su pueblo, que no confía en él.

Pero también Sofonías anuncia la voluntad de Yavé de formar un «pueblo de pobres» en medio de los cuales vivirá: Dios saltará de gozo y danzará con alegría por Jerusalén humilde y purificada.