The word of the Lord that came to Zephaniah son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, during the reign of Josiaha son of Amonb king of Judah:

Judgment on the Whole Earth in the Day of the Lord

2 “I will sweep away everything

from the face of the earth,”c

declares the Lord.

3 “I will sweep away both man and beast;d

I will sweep away the birds in the skye

and the fish in the sea—

and the idols that cause the wicked to stumble.”a

“When I destroy all mankind

on the face of the earth,”f

declares the Lord,g

4 “I will stretch out my handh against Judah

and against all who live in Jerusalem.

I will destroy every remnant of Baal worship in this place,i

the very names of the idolatrous priestsj—

5 those who bow down on the roofs

to worship the starry host,k

those who bow down and swear by the Lord

and who also swear by Molek,b l

6 those who turn back from followingm the Lord

and neither seekn the Lord nor inquireo of him.”

7 Be silentp before the Sovereign Lord,

for the day of the Lordq is near.

The Lord has prepared a sacrifice;r

he has consecrated those he has invited.

8 “On the day of the Lord’s sacrifice

I will punishs the officials

and the king’s sonst

and all those clad

in foreign clothes.

9 On that day I will punish

all who avoid stepping on the threshold,c u

who fill the temple of their gods

with violence and deceit.v

10 “On that day,w”

declares the Lord,

“a cry will go up from the Fish Gate,x

wailingy from the New Quarter,

and a loud crash from the hills.

11 Wail,z you who live in the market districtd;

all your merchants will be wiped out,

all who trade withe silver will be destroyed.a

12 At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps

and punish those who are complacent,b

who are like wine left on its dregs,c

who think, ‘The Lord will do nothing,d

either good or bad.’e

14 Sing, Daughter Zion;j

shout aloud,k Israel!

Be glad and rejoicel with all your heart,

Daughter Jerusalem!

15 The Lord has taken away your punishment,

he has turned back your enemy.

The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you;m

never again will you fearn any harm.o

16 On that day

they will say to Jerusalem,

“Do not fear, Zion;

do not let your hands hang limp.p

17 The Lord your God is with you,

the Mighty Warrior who saves.q

He will take great delightr in you;

in his love he will no longer rebuke you,s

but will rejoice over you with singing.”t

18 “I will remove from you

all who mourn over the loss of your appointed festivals,

which is a burden and reproach for you.

19 At that time I will deal

with all who oppressedu you.

I will rescue the lame;

I will gather the exiles.v

I will give them praisew and honor

in every land where they have suffered shame.

20 At that time I will gather you;

at that time I will bringx you home.

I will give you honory and praisez

among all the peoples of the earth

when I restore your fortunese a

before your very eyes,”

says the Lord.