Zephaniah 3

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

Woe to the rebellious city! The violent city is defiled.

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

She has not listened to the voice of God, nor accepted correction from Yahweh. She does not trust in Yahweh and will not approach her God.

3 Her princes in the midst of her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they leave nothing till the morrow.

Her princes are roaring lions in her midst. Her judges are evening wolves who leave nothing to be gnawed upon in the morning.

4 Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have profaned the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.

Her prophets are insolent and treasonous men. Her priests have profaned what is holy and have done violence to the law.

5 The LORD in the midst of her is righteous; he will not do iniquity; every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame.

Yahweh is righteous in her midst. He can do no wrong. Morning by morning he will dispense his justice! It will not be hidden in the light, yet unrighteous people know no shame.

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

“I have destroyed nations; their fortresses are ruined. I have made their streets ruins, so that no one passes over them. Their cities are destroyed so that there is no man inhabiting them.

7 I said, Surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive correction; so her dwelling should not be cut off, [according to] all that I have appointed concerning her: but they rose early and corrupted all their doings.

I said, 'Surely you will fear me. Accept correction and do not be cut off from your homes by all that I have planned to do to you.' But they were eager to begin each morning by corrupting all their deeds.

8 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.

Therefore wait for me—this is Yahweh's declaration—until the day that I rise up to seize the prey. For my decision is to assemble the nations, to gather the kingdoms, to pour out on them my anger—all of my burning wrath; for in the fire of my jealousy all the earth will be consumed.

9 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.

But then I will purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call upon the name of Yahweh to serve him shoulder to shoulder.

10 From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering.

From beyond the river of Cush my worshipers—my scattered people—will bring offerings due me.

11 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.

In that day you will not be put to shame for all your deeds that you committed against me, since at that time I will remove from among you those who celebrated your pride, and because you will no longer act arrogantly on my holy mountain.

12 But I will leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD.

But I will leave among you a lowly and poor people, and they will find refuge in the name of Yahweh.

13 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.

The remnant of Israel will no longer commit injustice or speak lies, and no deceitful tongue will be found in their mouth; so they will graze and lie down, and no one will make them afraid.”

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

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

15 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.

Yahweh has taken away your punishment; he has driven out your enemies! Yahweh is the king of Israel among you. You will never again fear evil!

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

In that day they will say to Jerusalem, “Do not fear, Zion. Do not let your hands falter.

17 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 rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

Yahweh your God is among you, a mighty one to save you. He will celebrate over you with joy; he will be silent over you in his love; he will be glad over you with a shout for joy.

18 I will gather them that sorrow for the solemn assembly, who were of thee: [to whom] the burden upon her was a reproach.

I will gather those who grieve, those who cannot attend the appointed feasts, so you will no longer bear any shame for it.

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

Behold, I am about to deal with all your oppressors. At that time, I will rescue the lame and gather up the outcast. I will make them as praise, and I will change their shame into renown in all the earth.

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

At that time I will lead you; at that time I will gather you together. I will make all the nations of the earth respect and praise you, when you see that I restored you,” says Yahweh.