Zephaniah 1:17

Judgment

¹⁵ That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,

¹⁶ A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers.

And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung.

¹⁸ Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD’s wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: I will bring such distress on mankind that they will walk like the blind, because they have sinned against the LORD. Their blood will be poured out like dust and their flesh like dung.
KJV: And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung.
WEB: I will bring such distress on men that they will walk like blind men because they have sinned against the LORD. Their blood will be poured out like dust and their flesh like dung.
ASV: And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against Jehovah; and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as dung.
DARBY: And I will bring distress upon men, and they shall walk like blind men; for they have sinned against Jehovah; and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as dung:
BLB: And I will bring distress to mankind, and they will walk like the blind, for against YHWH they have sinned; and their blood will be poured out like the dust, and their flesh like dung!

ÅB: Da vil jeg sette slik angst i menneskene at de går der som blinde, fordi de har syndet mot Herren; og deres blod skal utøses som støv, og deres kjøtt som møkk.
OTB: "Jeg vil bringe trengsel over menneskene,
så de skal gå som blinde,
fordi de har syndet mot Herren.
Deres blod skal bli utøst som støv
og deres kjøtt som møkk.
B1930: Da vil jeg sette slik angst i menneskene at de går der som blinde, fordi de har syndet mot Herren; og deres blod skal utøses som støv, og deres kjøtt som møkk.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Revelation 3:17
Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
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Psalms 83:10
Which perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth.
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2 Peter 1:9
But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
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Matthew 15:14
Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
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Micah 7:13
Notwithstanding the land shall be desolate because of them that dwell therein, for the fruit of their doings.
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Jeremiah 10:18
For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will sling out the inhabitants of the land at this once, and will distress them, that they may find it so.
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Jeremiah 2:17
Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, when he led thee by the way?
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Romans 11:7
What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded
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