Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD's anger come upon you.
Before the decree bring forth - i:e., before God's decree against you announced by me (Zephaniah 1:1-18) have its fulfillment. As the embryo lies hid in the womb, and then emerges to light in its own due time, so though God for a time hides His vengeance, yet He brings it forth at the proper season.
Before the day pass as the chaff - i:e., before the day for repentance pass, and with it you, the ungodly, pass away, as the chaff (Job 21:18; Psalms 1:4). Maurer puts it parenthetically, 'the day (i:e., time) passes as the chaff' (i:e., most quickly). Calvin, 'before the decree bring forth (the predicted vengeance), (then) the chaff (the Jews) shall pass in a day' - i:e., in a moment, though they thought that it would be long before they could be overthrown. But the Hebrew is against this translation. The English version is best; the latter clause being explanatory of the former, and so the before being understood, not expressed.