Zephaniah 3

1 Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city!

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

2 She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the LORD; she drew not near to her God.

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.

3 Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the next morning.

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

4 Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.

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

5 The just LORD is in the midst of her; he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame.

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.

6 I have cut off the nations: their towers are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none passeth by: their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, that there is no inhabitant.

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

7 I said, Surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive instruction; so their dwelling should not be cut off, however I punished them: but they rose early, and corrupted all their doings.

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.

8 Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them my indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.

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.

9 For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent.

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

10 From beyond the rivers of Cush my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring my offering.

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

11 In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, when thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty in my holy mountain.

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.

12 I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD.

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

13 The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.

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.

14 Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.

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

15 The LORD hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thy enemy: the king of Israel, even the LORD, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more.

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.

16 In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thy hands be slack.

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

17 The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

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.

18 I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden.

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

19 Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that is lame, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame.

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.

20 At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD.

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.