In Zephaniah 1:12, God declares that He will search Jerusalem with candles and punish the men who are settled on their lees. This expression, derived from winemaking, refers to the dregs or sediment that settle at the bottom of a vat during fermentation. In ancient Israel, wine was often left on the lees to gain strength and flavor, but if left too long, it would become thick, syrupy, and ruined. A diligent winemaker would periodically pour the wine into a new vat, straining off the lees to preserve its quality. Similarly, a person settled on his lees is depicted as slothful, complacent, indifferent, and apathetic. Just as bad wine left on the lees turns harsh and bitter, a person who remains in sin grows worse, plunging deeper into destructive patterns. Those settled on their lees also say, "The LORD will not do good, nor will He do evil," believing in God's existence but denying His power to act in their lives. This attitude breeds spiritual carelessness and destruction. For the righteous, a godly way of life can strengthen them, but they must guard against complacency, periodically renewing themselves by putting on the new man and replacing worldly values with godly ones. The Master Winemaker awaits to pour His people into vessels of honor and glory, urging them not to settle on their lees and produce an inferior vintage.