Zephaniah 3

Chapter 3

Jerusalem’s Rebellion and Redemption

1 What sorrow awaits rebellious, polluted Jerusalem,
the city of violence and crime!2 No one can tell it anything;
it refuses all correction.
It does not trust in the LORD
or draw near to its God.3 Its leaders are like roaring lions
hunting for their victims.
Its judges are like ravenous wolves at evening time,
who by dawn have left no trace of their prey.4 Its prophets are arrogant liars seeking their own gain.
Its priests defile the Temple by disobeying God’s instructions.5 But the LORD is still there in the city,
and he does no wrong.
Day by day he hands down justice,
and he does not fail.
But the wicked know no shame.6 “I have wiped out many nations,
devastating their fortress walls and towers.
Their streets are now deserted;
their cities lie in silent ruin.
There are no survivors—
none at all.7 I thought, ‘Surely they will have reverence for me now!
Surely they will listen to my warnings.
Then I won’t need to strike again,
destroying their homes.’
But no, they get up early
to continue their evil deeds.8 Therefore, be patient,” says the LORD.
“Soon I will stand and accuse these evil nations.
For I have decided to gather the kingdoms of the earth
and pour out my fiercest anger and fury on them.
All the earth will be devoured
by the fire of my jealousy.9 “Then I will purify the speech of all people,
so that everyone can worship the LORD together.10 My scattered people who live beyond the rivers of Ethiopiat
will come to present their offerings.11 On that day you will no longer need to be ashamed,
for you will no longer be rebels against me.
I will remove all proud and arrogant people from among you.
There will be no more haughtiness on my holy mountain.12 Those who are left will be the lowly and humble,
for it is they who trust in the name of the LORD.13 The remnant of Israel will do no wrong;
they will never tell lies or deceive one another.
They will eat and sleep in safety,
and no one will make them afraid.”14 Sing, O daughter of Zion;
shout aloud, O Israel!
Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,
O daughter of Jerusalem!15 For the LORD will remove his hand of judgment
and will disperse the armies of your enemy.
And the LORD himself, the King of Israel,
will live among you!
At last your troubles will be over,
and you will never again fear disaster.16 On that day the announcement to Jerusalem will be,
“Cheer up, Zion! Don’t be afraid!17 For the LORD your God is living among you.
He is a mighty savior.
He will take delight in you with gladness.
With his love, he will calm all your fears.t
He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”18 “I will gather you who mourn for the appointed festivals;
you will be disgraced no more.t19 And I will deal severely with all who have oppressed you.
I will save the weak and helpless ones;
I will bring together
those who were chased away.
I will give glory and fame to my former exiles,
wherever they have been mocked and shamed.20 On that day I will gather you together
and bring you home again.
I will give you a good name, a name of distinction,
among all the nations of the earth,
as I restore your fortunes before their very eyes.
I, the LORD, have spoken!”

Zephaniah 3

Jerusalem is Corrupt

1 The filthy,t stained city is as good as dead;
the city filled with oppressors is finished!ts

2 She is disobedient;t
she refuses correction.t
She does not trust the Lord;
she does not seek the advice oft her God.

3 Her princest are as fierce as roaring lions;t
her rulerst are as hungry as wolves in the desert,t
who completely devour their prey by morning.t

4 Her prophets are proud;s
they are deceitful men.
Her priests defile what is holy;ts
they break God’s laws.t

5 The just Lord residest within her;
he commits no unjust acts.t
Every morning he revealst his justice.
At dawn he appears without fail.t
Yet the unjust know no shame.

The Lord’s Judgment will Purify

6 “I destroyedt nations;
their walled citiest are in ruins.
I turned their streets into ruins;
no one passes through them.
Their cities are desolate;t
no one lives there.t

7 I thought,t ‘Certainly you will respectts me!
Now you will accept correction!’
If she had done so, her homet would not be destroyedt
by all the punishments I have threatened.t
But they eagerly sinned
in everything they did.t

8 Therefore you must wait patientlyt for me,” says the Lord,
“for the day when I attack and take plunder.t
I have decidedt to gather nations together
and assemble kingdoms,
so I can pour out my fury on them –
all my raging anger.
Fort the whole earth will be consumed
by my fiery anger.

9 Know for sure that I will then enable
the nations to give me acceptable praise.ts
All of them will invoke the Lord’s name when they pray,t
and will worship him in unison.t

10 From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia,t
those who pray to mets will bring me tribute.

11 In that day yous will not be ashamed of all your rebelliousness against me,t
for then I will remove from your midst those who proudly boast,t
and you will never again be arrogant on my holy hill.

12 I will leave in your midst a humble and meek group of people,t
and they will find safety in the Lord’s presence.ts

13 The Israelites who remaint will not act deceitfully.
They will not lie,
and a deceitful tongue will not be found in their mouth.
Indeed, they will graze peacefully like sheept and lie down;
no one will terrify them.”

14 Shout for joy, Daughter Zion!s
Shout out, Israel!
Be happy and boast with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem!

15 The Lord has removed the judgment against you;t
he has turned back your enemy.
Israel’s king, the Lord, is in your midst!
You no longer need to fear disaster.

16 On that day they will sayt to Jerusalem,
“Don’t be afraid, Zion!
Your hands must not be paralyzed from panic!t

17 The Lord your God is in your midst;
he is a warrior who can deliver.
He takes great delight in you;t
he renews you by his love;s
he shouts for joy over you.”t

18 “As for those who grieve because they cannot attend the festivals –
I took them away from you;
they became tribute and were a source of shame to you.t

19 Look, at that time I will deal with those who mistreated you.
I will rescue the lame sheept
and gather together the scattered sheep.
I will take away their humiliation
and make the whole earth admire and respect them.t

20 At that time I will lead you –
at the time I gather you together.t
Be sure of this!t I will make all the nations of the earth respect and admire yout
when you see me restore you,”t says the Lord.