Zephaniah 3

The Lord Will Save Jerusalem

1 How terrible it will be for Jerusalem!
Its people crush others.
They refuse to obey the Lord.
They are "unclean."
2 They don't obey anyone.
They don't accept the Lord's warnings.
They don't trust in him.
They don't ask their God for his help.
3 Their officials are like roaring lions.
Their rulers are like wolves that hunt in the evening.
They don't leave anything to eat in the morning.
4 Their prophets are proud.
They can't be trusted.
Their priests pollute the temple.
They break the law they teach others to obey.

5 In spite of that, the Lord is good to Jerusalem.
He never does anything that is wrong.
Every morning he does what is fair.
Each new day he does the right thing.
But those who do what is wrong
aren't even ashamed of it.

6 The Lord says to his people,
"I have cut off other nations.
I have wiped out their forts.
I have left their streets deserted.
No one walks along them.
Their cities are destroyed.
Not even one person is left.
7 I said to you people of Jerusalem,
'Because I cut off other nations,
you will have respect for me.
Now you will accept my warning.'
I wish you had returned to me.
Then your homes would not have been torn down.
And I would not have had to punish you so much.
But you still wanted to go on sinning
in every way you could.

8 So wait for me to come as judge,"
announces the Lord.
"Wait for the day I will stand up
to witness against all sinners.
I have decided to gather the nations.
I will bring the kingdoms together.
And I will pour out all of my burning anger on them.
The fire of my jealous anger
will burn the whole world up.
9 "But then I will purify what all of the nations say.
And they will use their words to worship me.
They will serve me together.
10 My scattered people, you will come to me
from beyond the rivers of Cush.
You will worship me.
You will bring me offerings.
11 You have done many wrong things to me.
But at that time you will not be put to shame anymore.
Then I will remove from this city
those who take delight in their pride.
You will never be proud again
on my holy mountain of Zion.
12 But inside your city I will leave
those who are not proud at all.
They trust in me.

13 Those who are still left alive in Israel
will not do anything wrong.
They will not tell any lies.
They will not say anything to fool others.
They will eat and lie down in peace.
And no one will make them afraid."
14 People of Zion, sing!
Israel, shout loudly!
People of Jerusalem, be glad!
Let your hearts be full of joy.
15 The Lord has stopped punishing you.
He has made your enemies turn away from you.
The Lord is the King of Israel.
He is with you.
You will never again be afraid
that others will harm you.
16 The time is coming when people will say to Jerusalem,
"Zion, don't be afraid.
Don't give up.

17 The Lord your God is with you.
He is mighty enough to save you.
He will take great delight in you.
The quietness of his love will calm you down.
He will sing with joy because of you."

18 The Lord says to his people,
"You used to celebrate my appointed feasts in Jerusalem.
You are sad because you can't do that anymore.
So others make fun of those feasts.
That was a heavy load for you to carry.
But I will bring you back to your city.
19 At that time I will punish
all those who crushed you.
I will save those among you who are disabled.
I will gather those who have been scattered.
I will give you praise and honor
in every land where you were put to shame.

20 At that time I will gather you together.
And I will bring you home.
I will give you honor and praise
among all of the nations on earth.
I will bless you with great success again,"
says the Lord.

Zephaniah 3

1 Woe to her that is rebellious and polluted! to the oppressing city!2 She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in Jehovah; she drew not near to her God.3 Her princes in the midst of her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they leave nothing till the morrow.4 Her prophets are light and treacherous persons; her priests have profaned the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.5 Jehovah in the midst of her is righteous; he will not do iniquity; every morning doth he bring his justice to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame.6 I have cut off nations; their battlements are desolate; I have made their streets waste, so that none passeth by; their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, so that there is no inhabitant.7 I said, Only fear thou me; receive correction; so her dwelling shall not be cut off, according to all that I have appointed concerning her: but they rose early and corrupted all their doings.8 Therefore wait ye for me, saith Jehovah, 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 mine indignation, even all my fierce anger; for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.9 For then will I turn to the peoples of a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of Jehovah, to serve him with one consent.10 From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering.11 In that day shalt thou not be put to shame for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me; for then I will take away out of the midst of thee thy proudly exulting ones, and thou shalt no more be haughty in my holy mountain.12 But I will leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall take refuge in the name of Jehovah.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.14 Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.15 Jehovah hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the King of Israel, even Jehovah, is in the midst of thee; thou shalt not fear evil any more.16 In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not; O Zion, let not thy hands be slack.17 Jehovah thy God is in the midst of thee, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love; he will joy over thee with singing.18 I will gather them that sorrow for the solemn assembly, who were of thee; to whom the burden upon her was a reproach.19 Behold, at that time I will deal with all them that afflict thee; and I will save that which is lame, and gather that which was driven away; and I will make them a praise and a name, whose shame hath been in all the earth.20 At that time will I bring you in, and at that time will I gather you; for I will make you a name and a praise among all the peoples of the earth, when I bring back your captivity before your eyes, saith Jehovah.