There is debate around the translation of the word translated as prey.
The ESV follows the Hebrew text (עַד), which would carry through the theme of the mighty Warrior who gains his just deserts in the judgment of the people.
1 Other translations follow the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament), repoint the vowels of the Hebrew term (עֵד), and translate as a witness
(see NASB, NIV, NRSV). The term witness
occurs in similar contexts (Jeremiah 29:23; Jeremiah 42:5; Micah 1:2; Malachi 3:5). If understood as witness
in Zephaniah 3:8, the Lord is picturing himself in a legal context of functioning as the chief prosecution witness against his enemies. But the question then arises: before whom is the Lord to offer his witness
if the nations as well as Judah are being brought to trial? Robertson points out in response that the Scriptures elsewhere present the Lord as witnessing
with no third party present to hear his awesome witness. For example, Jeremiah announces that the Lord will be witness against Israel’s sin (Jeremiah 29:23). Malachi announces that on the Day of the Lord, he will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers, those who swear falsely, those who oppress the hired labourer of his wages, and those who mistreat the sojourner (Malachi 3:5).2
Either translation is plausible. For no matter how the clause is translated, there can be no doubt that the Lord is immediately and actively involved in the judgement.
8 “Therefore wait for me,” declares the LORD, “for the day when I rise up to seize the prey. For my decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out upon them my indignation, all my burning anger; for in the fire of my jealousy all the earth shall be consumed.