Zephaniah 3

Jerusalem

Woe to the city of oppressors,^y

rebellious^z and defiled!^a

She obeys^b no one,

she accepts no correction.^c

She does not trust^d in the Lord,

she does not draw near^e to her God.

Her officials within her

are roaring lions;^f

her rulers are evening wolves,^g

who leave nothing for the morning.^h

Her prophets are unprincipled;

they cannot be trusted.ⁱ

Her priests profane the sanctuary

and do violence to the law.^j

The Lord within her is righteous;^k

he does no wrong.^l

Morning by morning^m he dispenses his justice,

and every new day he does not fail,ⁿ

yet the unrighteous know no shame.^o

Jerusalem Remains Unrepentant

“I have destroyed nations;

their strongholds are demolished.

I have left their streets deserted,

with no one passing through.

Their cities are laid waste;^p

they are deserted and empty.

Of Jerusalem I thought,

‘Surely you will fear me

and accept correction!’^q

Then her place of refuge would not be destroyed,

nor all my punishments come upon her.

But they were still eager

to act corruptly^r in all they did.

Therefore wait^s for me,”

declares the Lord,

“for the day I will stand up to testify.

I have decided to assemble^t the nations,^u

to gather the kingdoms

and to pour out my wrath^v on them—

all my fierce anger.^w

The whole world will be consumed^x

by the fire of my jealous anger.

Restoration of Israel’s Remnant

“Then I will purify the lips of the peoples,

that all of them may call^a on the name of the Lord^b

and serve^c him shoulder to shoulder.

From beyond the rivers of Cush^d

my worshipers, my scattered people,

will bring me offerings.^e

On that day you, Jerusalem, will not be put to shame^f

for all the wrongs you have done to me,^g

because I will remove from you

those who revel in your glory.^h

Never again will you be haughty

on my holy hill.ⁱ

But I will leave within you

the meek^j and humble.

The remnant of Israel

will trust^k in the name of the Lord.

They^l will do no wrong;^m

they will tell no lies.ⁿ

A deceitful tongue

will not be found in their mouths.^o

They will eat and lie down^p

and no one will make them afraid.^q”

Sing, Daughter Zion;^r

shout aloud,^s Israel!

Be glad and rejoice^t with all your heart,

Daughter Jerusalem!

The Lord has taken away your punishment,

he has turned back your enemy.

The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you;^u

never again will you fear^v any harm.^w

On that day

they will say to Jerusalem,

“Do not fear, Zion;

do not let your hands hang limp.^x

The Lord your God is with you,

the Mighty Warrior who saves.^y

He will take great delight^z in you;

in his love he will no longer rebuke you,^a

but will rejoice over you with singing.”^b

“I will remove from you

all who mourn over the loss of your appointed festivals,

which is a burden and reproach for you.

At that time I will deal

with all who oppressed^c you.

I will rescue the lame;

I will gather the exiles.^d

I will give them praise^e and honor

in every land where they have suffered shame.

At that time I will gather you;

at that time I will bring^f you home.

I will give you honor^g and praise^h

among all the peoples of the earth

when I restore your fortunesⁱ

before your very eyes,”

says the Lord.