Zephaniah 3

WOE TO OPPRESSIVE JERUSALEM

3Woe to the city that is rebellious^Ba and defiled,^b

the oppressive city!

²She has not obeyed;^c

she has not accepted discipline.^d

She has not trusted^e in the Lord;

she has not drawn near to her God.

³The^C princes within her are roaring lions;^f

her judges are wolves of the night,^g

which leave nothing for^D the morning.

⁴Her prophets are reckless^h—

treacherous men.

Her priests profane the sanctuary;

they do violence to instruction.ⁱ

⁵The righteous Lord is in her;^j

he does no wrong.^k

He applies his justice morning by morning;

he does not fail at dawn,

yet the one who does wrong knows no shame.^l

⁶I have cut off nations;

their corner towers^m are destroyed.

I have laid waste their streets,

with no one to pass through.

Their cities lie devastated,

without a person, without an inhabitant.ⁿ

⁷I said: You will certainly fear me

and accept correction.

Then her dwelling place^E

would not be cut off

based on all that I had allocated to her.

However, they became more corrupt

in all their actions.

⁸Therefore, wait for me^o—

this is the Lord’s declaration—

until the day I rise up for plunder.^F

For my decision is to gather nations,

to assemble kingdoms,

in order to pour out my indignation^p on them,

all my burning anger;

for the whole earth will be consumed

by the fire of my jealousy.^q

FINAL RESTORATION PROMISED

⁹For I will then restore

pure^r speech to the peoples

so that all of them may call

on the name of the Lord

and serve him with a single purpose.^G

¹⁰From beyond the rivers of Cush^s

my supplicants, my dispersed people,

will bring an offering to me.

¹¹On that day you^H will not be put to shame^t

because of everything you have done

in rebelling^u against me.

For then I will remove

from among you your jubilant,^v arrogant people,

and you will never again be haughty

on my holy mountain.^w

¹²I will leave

a meek and humble people^x among you,

and they will take refuge in the name of the Lord.

¹³The remnant^y of Israel will no longer

do wrong or tell lies;

a deceitful tongue will not be found

in their mouths.

They will pasture and lie down,

with nothing to make them afraid.^z

¹⁴Sing for joy, Daughter Zion;

shout loudly, Israel!

Be glad and celebrate with all your heart,

Daughter Jerusalem!

¹⁵The Lord has removed your punishment;

he has turned back your enemy.

The King of Israel, the Lord, is among you;

you need no longer fear harm.

¹⁶On that day it will be said to Jerusalem:

“Do not fear;

Zion, do not let your hands grow weak.^aa

¹⁷The Lord your God is among you,

a warrior^ab who saves.

He will rejoice over you^ac with gladness.

He will be quiet^A in his love.

He will delight in you with singing.”^ad

¹⁸I will gather those who have been driven^a

from the appointed festivals;

they will be a tribute from you^B

and a reproach on her.^C

¹⁹Yes, at that time

I will deal with all who oppress you.

I will save the lame^b and gather the outcasts;^c

I will make those who were disgraced

throughout the earth

receive praise and fame.

²⁰At that time I will bring you^D back,

yes, at the time I will gather you.

I will give you fame and praise

among all the peoples of the earth,

when I restore your fortunes^d before your eyes.

The Lord has spoken.