Zephaniah 3

1 Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted, the oppressing city.

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

2 She did not obey the voice. She did not receive correction. She did not trust in the LORD. She did not draw near to her God.

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.

3 Her princes in the midst of her are roaring lions. Her judges are evening wolves. They leave nothing until the next day.

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

4 Her prophets are arrogant and treacherous people. Her priests have profaned the sanctuary. They have done violence to the law.

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

5 The LORD, in the midst of her, is righteous. He will do no wrong. Every morning he brings his justice to light. He doesn't fail, but the unjust know no shame.

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.

6 I have cut off nations. Their battlements are desolate. I have made their streets waste, so that no one passes by. Their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, so that there is no inhabitant.

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

7 I said, "Just fear me. Receive correction, so that her dwelling won't be cut off, according to all that I have appointed concerning her." But they rose early and corrupted all their doings.

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.

8 "Therefore wait for me," says the LORD, "until the day that I rise up as a witness. For my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour on them my indignation, even all my fierce anger. For all the earth will be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.

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.

9 For then I will purify the lips of the peoples, that they may all call on the name of the LORD, to serve him shoulder to shoulder.

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

10 From beyond the rivers of Cush, my worshipers, even the daughter of my dispersed people, will bring my offering.

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

11 In that day you will not be disappointed for all your doings, in which you have transgressed against me; for then I will take away out of the midst of you your proudly exulting ones, and you will no more be haughty in my holy mountain.

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.

12 But I will leave in the midst of you an afflicted and poor people, and they will take refuge in the name of the LORD.

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

13 The remnant of Israel will not do iniquity, nor speak lies, neither will a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth, for they will feed and lie down, and no one will make them afraid."

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.

14 Sing, daughter of Zion. Shout, Israel. Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, daughter of Jerusalem.

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

15 The LORD has taken away your judgments. He has thrown out your enemy. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in the midst of you. You will not be afraid of evil any more.

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.

16 In that day, it will be said to Jerusalem, "Do not be afraid, Zion. Do not let your hands be weak."

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

17 The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save. He will rejoice over you with joy. He will calm you in his love. He will rejoice over you with singing.

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.

18 I will remove those who grieve about the appointed feasts from you. They are a burden and a reproach to you.

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

19 Look, at that time I will deal with all those who afflict you, and I will save those who are lame, and gather those who were driven away. I will give them praise and honor, whose shame has been in all the earth.

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.

20 At that time will I bring you in, and at that time will I gather you; for I will give you honor and praise among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes, says the LORD.

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.