Zephaniah 3

1 What disaster is coming to corrupted, rebellious Jerusalem, you who oppress people!

Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city!

2 You don't listen to anybody, you don't accept correction, you don't trust in the Lord, you don't ask for God's help.

She hearkened not to the voice, she received not correction; she trusted not in the LORD, she drew not near to her God.

3 Your leaders are as greedy as roaring lions; your judges are ravenous wolves that leave nothing behind by morning.

Her princes in the midst of her are roaring lions; her judges are wolves of the desert, they leave not a bone for the morrow.

4 Your prophets are arrogant, deceitful men who defile what is sacred and who openly break the law.

Her prophets are wanton and treacherous persons; her priests have profaned that which is holy, they have done violence to the law.

5 But the Lord who does right is still among you, he does no wrong. Every morning he gives his judgment, every day without fail. But those who act unjustly have no shame.

The LORD who is righteous is in the midst of her, He will not do unrighteousness; every morning doth He bring His right to light, it faileth not; but the unrighteous knoweth no shame.

6 I have destroyed nations. Their fortresses are deserted; their streets are empty; their cities are destroyed—there are no survivors, not one.

I have cut off nations, their corners are desolate; I have made their streets waste, so that none passeth by; their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, so that there is no inhabitant.

7 I told myself, “Surely they will respect me now and accept my correction. Then their homes would not be destroyed to teach them a lesson.” But instead you're just as eager to go on doing evil.

I said: 'Surely thou wilt fear Me, thou wilt receive correction; so her dwelling shall not be cut off, despite all that I have visited upon her'; but they betimes corrupted all their doings.

8 You just wait, declares the Lord. The day is coming when I will rise to give evidence. For I have decided to gather together all the nations and kingdoms and to pour out on them my anger, my fury and my rage. The whole earth will be burned up by the fire of my jealous anger.

Therefore wait ye for Me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey; for My determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them Mine indignation, even all My fierce anger; for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of My jealousy.

9 For then I will give the nations pure speech so they can all pray and worship the Lord together.

For then will I turn to the peoples a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve Him with one consent.

10 From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my scattered people, my worshipers, will come to bring their offerings to me.

From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia shall they bring My suppliants, even the daughter of My dispersed, as Mine offering.

11 On that day you won't be ashamed because of what you did in rebelling against me, for I will remove from among you those who are proud and boastful. Never again will you be conceited on my holy mountain.

In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against Me; for then I will take away out of the midst of thee thy proudly exulting ones, and thou shalt no more be haughty in My holy mountain.

12 I will leave among you those who are meek and humble, those who trust in the name of the Lord.

And I will leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall take refuge in the name of the LORD.

13 The people of Israel who remain will not act wickedly nor will they tell lies. They will not deceive one another. They will be able to eat in peace and sleep in safety for there will be nothing to frighten them.

The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies, neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth; for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.

14 Sing out, Jerusalem! Shout aloud, Israel! Jerusalem, be happy and celebrate with all your heart!

Sing, O daughter of Zion, shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.

15 For the Lord has turned aside from punishing you, and he has turned back your enemies. The Lord, the king of Israel, is with you, and you will never again have to fear disaster.

The LORD hath taken away thy judgments, He hath cast out thine enemy; The King of Israel, even the LORD, is in the midst of thee; thou shalt not fear evil any more.

16 On that day the message to the people of Jerusalem will be, “Don't be afraid; don't be discouraged!”

In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: 'Fear thou not; O Zion, let not thy hands be slack.

17 The Lord your God is among you as a mighty warrior who saves. He will be so happy with you. He will renew his love for you. He will celebrate over you with loud singing.

The LORD thy God is in the midst of thee, a Mighty One who will save; He will rejoice over thee with joy, He will be silent in His love, He will joy over thee with singing.'

18 I will gather those of you who mourn for the religious festivals—you will no longer have to bear the disgrace.

I will gather them that are far from the appointed season, who are of thee, that hast borne the burden of reproach.

19 Look at what I am going to do! At that time I am going to deal with all those who have oppressed you. I will save those who are helpless and bring back those who were scattered, and I will turn their shame into praise, and all the world will respect them.

Behold, at that time I will deal with all them that afflict thee; and I will save her that is lame, and gather her that was driven away; and I will make them to be a praise and a name, whose shame hath been in all the earth.

20 At that time I will bring you home, gathering you together. I will give you a good reputation, and you will be praised by all the peoples of the earth when I restore your status before your very eyes, says the Lord.

At that time will I bring you in, and at that time will I gather you; for I will make you to be a name and a praise among all the peoples of the earth, when I turn your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD.