Zephaniah 3

1 What disaster is coming to corrupted, rebellious Jerusalem, you who oppress people!

Woe to her that is rebellious and polluted, The oppressing city!

2 You don't listen to anybody, you don't accept correction, you don't trust in the Lord, you don't ask for God's help.

She listeneth to no voice, She receiveth not admonition; She trusteth not in Jehovah, She draweth not near to her God.

3 Your leaders are as greedy as roaring lions; your judges are ravenous wolves that leave nothing behind by morning.

Her princes within her are roaring lions; Her judges are evening wolves; They reserve nothing for the morning.

4 Your prophets are arrogant, deceitful men who defile what is sacred and who openly break the law.

Her prophets are vainglorious, Men of treachery; Her priests pollute the sanctuary, They violate the law.

5 But the Lord who does right is still among you, he does no wrong. Every morning he gives his judgment, every day without fail. But those who act unjustly have no shame.

But Jehovah is just in the midst of her; He doeth no iniquity. Every morning bringeth he his righteousness to light; he faileth not; Yet the wicked knoweth not shame.

6 I have destroyed nations. Their fortresses are deserted; their streets are empty; their cities are destroyed—there are no survivors, not one.

I have cut off nations; their towers are destroyed; I have laid waste their streets so that none passeth through; Their cities are made desolate, without a man, without an inhabitant.

7 I told myself, “Surely they will respect me now and accept my correction. Then their homes would not be destroyed to teach them a lesson.” But instead you're just as eager to go on doing evil.

Then I said, “Surely thou wilt fear me; thou wilt receive admonition, That thy habitation may not be cut off, As I have commanded concerning thee.” But they were diligent to commit iniquity In all their doings.

8 You just wait, declares the Lord. The day is coming when I will rise to give evidence. For I have decided to gather together all the nations and kingdoms and to pour out on them my anger, my fury and my rage. The whole earth will be burned up by the fire of my jealous anger.

Therefore wait for me, saith Jehovah. Until the day when I rise up to the prey. For my purpose is to gather the nations, to assemble the kingdoms, To pour upon them my indignation, Even all the heat of my wrath. For with the fire of mine anger shall all the earth be devoured.

9 For then I will give the nations pure speech so they can all pray and worship the Lord together.

Then will I again bestow upon the nations pure lips, So that they shall all of them call upon the name of Jehovah, And serve him with one consent.

10 From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my scattered people, my worshipers, will come to bring their offerings to me.

From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia My suppliants, the sons of my dispersed ones, shall bring my offering.

11 On that day you won't be ashamed because of what you did in rebelling against me, for I will remove from among you those who are proud and boastful. Never again will you be conceited on my holy mountain.

In that day thou shalt not be ashamed For all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me; For I will take away from the midst of thee thy proud exulters, And thou shalt no more exalt thyself upon my holy mountain.

12 I will leave among you those who are meek and humble, those who trust in the name of the Lord.

I will leave in the midst of thee a humble and lowly people, Who trust in the name of Jehovah.

13 The people of Israel who remain will not act wickedly nor will they tell lies. They will not deceive one another. They will be able to eat in peace and sleep in safety for there will be nothing to frighten them.

The residue of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak falsehood; Neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth; Therefore shall they feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.

14 Sing out, Jerusalem! Shout aloud, Israel! Jerusalem, be happy and celebrate with all your heart!

Sing, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all thy heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!

15 For the Lord has turned aside from punishing you, and he has turned back your enemies. The Lord, the king of Israel, is with you, and you will never again have to fear disaster.

Jehovah hath taken away thy punishments; He hath removed thine enemies. The king of Israel, Jehovah, is in the midst of thee; Thou shalt see evil no more.

16 On that day the message to the people of Jerusalem will be, “Don't be afraid; don't be discouraged!”

In that day shall it be said to Jerusalem, Fear not! And to Zion, Let not thy hands hang down!

17 The Lord your God is among you as a mighty warrior who saves. He will be so happy with you. He will renew his love for you. He will celebrate over you with loud singing.

Jehovah thy God will be in the midst of thee; The mighty one will save thee. He will rejoice over thee with gladness; He will pardon thee in his love; He will exult over thee with singing.

18 I will gather those of you who mourn for the religious festivals—you will no longer have to bear the disgrace.

I will gather them that mourn, far from the solemn assembly, They were far from thee; the reproach was a burden upon thee.

19 Look at what I am going to do! At that time I am going to deal with all those who have oppressed you. I will save those who are helpless and bring back those who were scattered, and I will turn their shame into praise, and all the world will respect them.

Behold, at that time I will destroy all that afflict thee; And I will save the halting, and gather the scattered, And I will make them a praise and a name In every land where they have been put to shame.

20 At that time I will bring you home, gathering you together. I will give you a good reputation, and you will be praised by all the peoples of the earth when I restore your status before your very eyes, says the Lord.

At that time I will bring you back, And at that time I will gather you; For I will make you a name and a praise among all the nations of the earth, When I bring back your captives before your eyes, saith Jehovah.