< Zephaniah 1 >
1 The word of the LORD which came to Zephaniah, the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah, the son of Amon, king of Judah.
2 I will utterly sweep away everything off of the surface of the earth, says the LORD.
3 I will sweep away people and animals. I will sweep away the birds of the sky, and the fish of the sea, and the idols that cause the wicked to stumble. I will remove humankind from the surface of the earth, says the LORD.
4 I will stretch out my hand against Judah, and against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, the name of the idolatrous priests along with the priests,
5 those who worship the host of heaven on the housetops, those who worship and swear by the LORD and also swear by Milcom,
6 those who have turned back from following the LORD, and those who haven't sought the LORD nor inquired after him.
7 Be silent at the presence of the LORD, for the day of the LORD is at hand. For the LORD has prepared a sacrifice. He has consecrated his guests.
8 It will happen in the day of the LORD's sacrifice that I will punish the princes, the king's sons, and all those who are clothed with foreign attire.
9 In that day, I will punish all those who leap over the threshold, who fill their master's house with violence and deceit.
10 On that day, says the LORD, there will be the noise of a cry from the Fish Gate, a wailing from the Second Quarter, and a loud crash from the hills.
11 Wail, you inhabitants of the market district, for all the merchants will be destroyed, and all those who weigh out silver will be removed.
12 It will happen at that time that I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the people who are complacent, who say in their heart, "The LORD will not do good, nor will he do harm."
13 Their wealth will be looted and their houses a desolation. Yes, they will build houses, but won't inhabit them. They will plant vineyards, but won't drink their wine.
14 The great day of the LORD is near. Near and approaching very rapidly. The cry on the day of the LORD is bitter. In it the warrior shouts his battle cry.
15 That day is a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of devastation and ruin, a day of clouds and thick darkness,
16 a day of the trumpet and battle cry against the fortified cities, and against the high corner towers.
17 I will bring distress on the people, that they will walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD, and their blood will be poured out like dust, and their flesh like dung.
18 Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD's wrath, but the whole land will be devoured by the fire of his jealousy; for he will bring terrifying destruction on all the inhabitants of the land.
