Zephaniah 3:1–13
3 Woe to the city of oppressors,s
2 She obeysv no one,
she accepts no correction.w
She does not trustx in the Lord,
she does not draw neary to her God.
are roaring lions;z
her rulers are evening wolves,a
who leave nothing for the morning.b
4 Her prophets are unprincipled;
they are treacherous people.c
Her priests profane the sanctuary
and do violence to the law.d
5 The Lord within her is righteous;e
he does no wrong.f
Morning by morningg he dispenses his justice,
and every new day he does not fail,h
yet the unrighteous know no shame.i
6 “I have destroyed nations;
their strongholds are demolished.
I have left their streets deserted,
with no one passing through.
Their cities are laid waste;j
they are deserted and empty.
‘Surely you will fear me
and accept correction!’k
Then her place of refugea would not be destroyed,
nor all my punishments come uponb her.
But they were still eager
to act corruptlyl in all they did.
8 Therefore waitm for me,”
declares the Lord,
“for the day I will stand up to testify.c
I have decided to assemblen the nations,o
to gather the kingdoms
and to pour out my wrathp on them—
all my fierce anger.q
The whole world will be consumedr
by the fire of my jealous anger.
Restoration of Israel’s Remnant
9 “Then I will purify the lips of the peoples,
that all of them may calls on the name of the Lordt
and serveu him shoulder to shoulder.
10 From beyond the rivers of Cushd v
my worshipers, my scattered people,
will bring me offerings.w
11 On that day you, Jerusalem, will not be put to shamex
for all the wrongs you have done to me,y
because I will remove from you
your arrogant boasters.z
Never again will you be haughty
on my holy hill.a
12 But I will leave within you
the meekb and humble.
The remnant of Israel
will trustc in the name of the Lord.
they will tell no lies.f
A deceitful tongue
will not be found in their mouths.g
They will eat and lie downh
and no one will make them afraid.i”