Zephaniah 3:1–8

Woe to Jerusalem and the Nations

¹Woe to her who is ^arebellious and ^bdefiled,

The ^ctyrannical city!

²She ^aheeded no voice,

She ^baccepted no instruction.

She did not ^ctrust in the Lord,

She did not ^ddraw near to her God.

³Her ^aprinces within her are roaring lions,

Her judges are ^bwolves at evening;

They leave nothing for the morning.

⁴Her prophets are ^areckless, treacherous men;

Her ^bpriests have profaned the sanctuary.

They have done violence to the law.

⁵The Lord is ^arighteous ^bwithin her;

He will ^cdo no injustice.

^dEvery morning He brings His justice to light;

He does not fail.

But the unjust ^eknows no shame.

⁶“I have cut off nations;

Their corner towers are in ruins.

I have made their streets ^adesolate,

With no one passing by;

Their ^bcities are laid waste,

Without a man, ^cwithout an inhabitant.

⁷“I said, ‘Surely you will revere Me,

^aAccept instruction.’

So her dwelling will ^bnot be cut off

According to all that I have appointed concerning her.

But they were eager to ^ccorrupt all their deeds.

⁸“Therefore ^await for Me,” declares the Lord,

“For the day when I rise up as a witness.

Indeed, My decision is to ^bgather nations,

To assemble kingdoms,

To pour out on them My indignation,

All My burning anger;

For ^call the earth will be devoured

By the fire of My zeal.