The first phrase of this verse, those who are left in Israel, is taken with the last part of verse 12 by several modern versions (Revised Standard Version, Bible de Jérusalem, Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, New English Bible, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). They understand it either to be the subject of the verb “seek” (Bible de Jérusalem, Jerusalem Bible, New English Bible) or to refer back to the pronoun “they,” which itself refers back to the “humble and lowly” in the earlier part of verse 12 (Revised Standard Version, New American Bible). The parallelism of the Hebrew text suggests that these words are indeed better taken with verse 12. However, others such as Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Good News Translation, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, and Bible en français courant take this phrase with the verb which follows it. Thus Good News Translation renders “The people of Israel who survive will do no wrong to anyone.” Since the same group of people, the minority who obey the LORD, is in view throughout verses 12 and 13, the difference is more one of emphasis than of meaning. For comments on those who are left, see notes on “remnant” in Zephaniah 2.7.

Further marks of this faithful minority are that they utter no lies, nor shall there be found in their mouth a deceitful tongue. This last expression is a figure of speech called metonymy. Most translators will need to express its meaning in nonfigurative language. Good News Translation offers a model by saying that they will “tell no lies, nor try to deceive.” New English Bible replaces the Hebrew figure of speech with an English one and says “no words of deceit shall pass their lips.” Some translators may be able to find a suitable idiomatic expression in their own language.

As a result of the new character of the remaining inhabitants of Jerusalem, they will enjoy security and peace. This is expressed by means of a picture taken from sheep farming: they shall pasture and lie down, and none shall make them afraid. Only when sheep are safe and undisturbed will they “graze and rest” (Jerusalem Bible). At any sign of danger they scatter in all directions. In areas where sheep are well known, the translator can probably keep the Hebrew metaphor, but where sheep are not known, it will probably be better to express the meaning in nonfigurative language, as Good News Translation does with “They will be prosperous and secure, afraid of no one.” The description of sheep at rest as a picture of security is quite common in the Old Testament. Compare Psalm 23.1-3; Isaiah 17.2; Micah 7.14. In this context it refers to safety. Another possible restructuring of the last part of the verse is “They will be like sheep which graze in safety. They will rest and no one will make them afraid.”

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 .