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 obeyed not 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 within her [are] roaring lions; her judges [are] evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow.
4 Your prophets are arrogant, deceitful men who defile what is sacred and who openly break the law.
Her prophets are light [and] treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, 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 just LORD [is] in the midst of her; he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; but the unjust 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 the nations: their towers are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none passeth by: their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, 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 instruction; so their dwelling should not be cut off, however I punished them: but they rose early, [and] 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 upon 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 my 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 people 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 Cush my suppliants, [even] the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring my 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, in which thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain.
12 I will leave among you those who are meek and humble, those who trust in the name of the Lord.
I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust 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 thy enemy: the King of Israel, [even] the LORD, [is] in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see 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: [and to] 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 in the midst of thee [is] mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest 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] sorrowful for the solemn assembly, [who] are of thee, [to whom] the reproach of it [was] a burden.
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 undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame.
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 [again], even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD.
