This verse continues the attack on the Jerusalem leaders and mentions in particular the prophets (compare Micah 2.11; 3.5-7) and priests (compare Hos 4.6-9; 6.9; Micah 3.11). Two statements are made about each group. The prophets are wanton and faithless. The word here translated wanton elsewhere means either “unstable” (Gen 49.4) or “reckless” (Judges 9.4). Some translations assume the latter meaning here, apply it to recklessness in speech, and render “braggarts” (Jerusalem Bible), “insolent” (New American Bible), or “arrogant” (New International Version). Both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation seem to prefer the former meaning, which Good News Translation renders as “irresponsible.” The second term, faithless, may in this context mean “giving false messages that do not come from the LORD” (compare Jerusalem Bible “impostors,” New English Bible “no true prophets”); or it may mean “not to be trusted,” that is, “treachedous” (Good News Translation, New American Bible, New International Version), which is the usual meaning of the Hebrew term.

One of the tasks of the priests was to distinguish between those things set apart for God’s use and those in common use (Lev 10.10; Hag 2.10-13). Zephaniah here accuses them of failing to do this (compare Ezek 22.26). Rather they profane what is sacred and treat it as though it were for general use. It is possible that what is sacred refers to “the sanctuary” (New English Bible, New International Version, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch), that is, the Temple, but probably a more general meaning is intended, as understood by Revised Standard Version, Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, Good News Translation, and Bible en français courant. Profane in this context means “to make impure” in a religious sense. Some languages have technical words for “defilement” in this sense. In other languages the idea of “religious contamination” may be useful. Sacred may be expressed in many languages as “things dedicated to the LORD.” Some languages will express the clause profane what is sacred as “use things dedicated to the LORD for common (or, ordinary) purposes.”

The second accusation against the priests is that they do violence to the law. This means either that they break the law, or that in their duty of interpreting it, they give interpretations favorable to people who can afford to pay them (compare Micah 3.11). This is the understanding behind the Good News Translation statement that they “twist the law of God to their own advantage.” The law here refers primarily to the laws given through Moses. Translation models are “they openly break the law” or “they interpret the law so that they themselves make gains they have no right to.”

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 .