Zephaniah 1:4–12

4 I will stretch out my handg against Judah

and against all the residents of Jerusalem.

I will cut off every vestige of Baalh

from this place,

the names of the pagan priestsi

along with the priests;

5 those who bow in worship on the rooftopsj

to the stars in the sky;

those who bow and pledge loyalty to the Lordk

but also pledge loyalty to Milcom;B,l

6 and those who turn back from following the Lord,

who do not seek the Lord or inquire of him.

7 Be silent in the presence of the Lord God,m

for the day of the Lord is near.n

Indeed, the Lord has prepared a sacrifice;o

he has consecrated his guests.p

8 On the day of the Lord’s sacrifice

I will punish the officials, the king’s sons,

and all who are dressed in foreign clothing.

9 On that dayq I will punish

all who skip over the threshold,C,r

who fill their master’s house

with violence and deceit.

10 On that day—

this is the Lord’s declaration—

there will be an outcry from the Fish Gate,s

a wailing from the Second District,t

and a loud crashing from the hills.

11 Wail, you residents of the Hollow,D

for all the merchantsE will be silenced;

all those loaded with silver will be cut off.

12 And at that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps

and punish those who settle down comfortably,A,u

who say to themselves:

The Lord will do nothing—good or bad.v