3Jerusalem is doomed, that corrupt, rebellious city that oppresses its own people. ²It has not listened to the Lord or accepted his discipline. It has not put its trust in the Lord or asked for his help. ³Its officials are like roaring lions; its judges are like hungry wolves, too greedy to leave a bone until morning. ⁴The prophets are irresponsible and treacherous; the priests defile what is sacred, and twist the law of God to their own advantage. ⁵But the Lord is still in the city; he does what is right and never what is wrong. Every morning without fail, he brings justice to his people. And yet the unrighteous people there keep on doing wrong and are not ashamed.

⁶The Lord says, “I have wiped out whole nations; I have destroyed their cities and left their walls and towers in ruins. The cities are deserted; the streets are empty—no one is left. ⁷I thought that then my people would have reverence for me and accept my discipline, that they would never forget^g the lesson I taught them. But soon they were behaving as badly as ever.

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Zephaniah 3:5: The LORD within her is righteous; he does no injustice; every morning he shows forth his justice; each dawn he does not fail; but the unjust knows no shame.

Footnotes

gSome ancient translations they would never forget; Hebrew their dwelling would not be cut off.