| 1:1 |
The word of the Lord whichthat came to Zephani′ahZephaniah the son of Cushi son of Gedali′ahGedaliah son of Amari′ahAmariah son of Hezeki′ahHezekiah in the days of Josi′ahJosiah the son of Amon king of Judah |
| 1:2 |
I will utterly sweep away everything from the face of the earth saysdeclares the Lord |
| 1:3 |
I will sweep away man and beast; I will sweep away the birds of the airheavens and the fish of the sea Iand willthe overthrowrubble with the wicked; I will cut off mankind from the face of the earth saysdeclares the Lord |
| 1:4 |
I will stretch out my hand against Judah and against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off from this place the remnant of Ba′alBaal and the name of the idolatrous priests; along with the priests |
| 1:5 |
those who bow down on the roofs to the host of the heavens; those who bow down and swear to the Lord and yet swear by Milcom; |
| 1:7 |
Be silent before the Lord God For the day of the Lord is at handnear; the Lord has prepared a sacrifice and consecrated his guests |
| 1:9 |
On that day I will punish everyeveryone one who leaps over the threshold and those who fill their masters house with violence and fraud |
| 1:10 |
On that day saysdeclares the Lord a cry will be heard from the Fish Gate a wail from the Second Quarter a loud crash from the hills |
| 1:12 |
At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and I will punish the men who are thickeningcomplacent upon their lees those who say in their hearts The Lord will not do good nor will he do ill |
| 1:14 |
The great day of the Lord is near near and hastening fast; the sound of the day of the Lord is bitter; the mighty man cries aloud there |
| 1:17 |
I will bring distress on menmankind so that they shall walk like the blind because they have sinned against the Lord; their blood shall be poured out like dust and their flesh like dung |
| 1:18 |
Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them on the day of the wrath of the Lord In the fire of his jealousjealousy wrath all the earth shall be consumed; for a full yeaand sudden end he will make of all the inhabitants of the earth |
| 2:1 |
ComeGather together andyes holdgather assembly O shameless nation |
| 2:2 |
before youthe aredecree driventakes awayeffect like—before the driftingday passes away like chaff— before there comes upon you the fierceburning anger of the Lord before there comes upon you the day of the wrathanger of the Lord |
| 2:3 |
Seek the Lord all you humble of the land who do his just commands; seek righteousness; seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the wrathanger of the Lord |
| 2:4 |
For Gaza shall be deserted and Ash′kelonAshkelon shall become a desolation; Ashdods people shall be driven out at noon and Ekron shall be uprooted |
| 2:5 |
Woe to you inhabitants of the seacoast you nation of the Cher′ethitesCherethites The word of the Lord is against you O Canaan land of the Philistines; and I will destroy you tilluntil no inhabitant is left |
| 2:6 |
And you O seacoast shall be pastures with meadows for shepherds and folds for flocks |
| 2:7 |
The seacoast shall become the possession of the remnant of the house of Judah on which they shall pasturegraze and in the houses of Ash′kelonAshkelon they shall lie down at evening For the Lord their God will be mindful of them and restore their fortunes |
| 2:9 |
Therefore as I live saysdeclares the Lord of hosts the God of Israel Moab shall become like Sodom and the Ammonites like Gomor′rahGomorrah a land possessed by nettles and salt pits and a waste forforever ever The remnant of my people shall plunder them and the survivors of my nation shall possess them |
| 2:10 |
This shall be their lot in return for their pride because they scoffedtaunted and boasted against the people of the Lord of hosts |
| 2:11 |
The Lord will be terribleawesome against them; yeafor he will famish all the gods of the earth and to him shall bow down each in its place all the lands of the nations |
| 2:12 |
You also O EthiopiansCushites shall be slain by my sword |
| 2:13 |
And he will stretch out his hand against the north and destroy Assyria; and he will make Nin′evehNineveh a desolation a dry waste like the desert |
| 2:14 |
Herds shall lie down in theher midst of her all thekinds beasts of the fieldbeasts; even the vultureowl and the hedgehog shall lodge in her capitals; thea owlvoice shall hoot in the window; thedevastation ravenwill croakbe on the threshold; for her cedar work will be laid bare |
| 2:15 |
This is the exultant city that dweltlived securesecurely that said toin herselfher heart I am and there is noneno one else What a desolation she has become a lair for wild beasts EveryEveryone one who passes by her hisses and shakes his fist |
| 3:1 |
Woe to her thatwho is rebellious and defiled the oppressing city |
| 3:2 |
She listens to no voice; she accepts no correction She does not trust in the Lord; she does not draw near to her God |
| 3:4 |
Her prophets are wantonfickle faithlesstreacherous men; her priests profane what is sacredholy; they do violence to the law |
| 3:5 |
The Lord within her is righteous; he does no wronginjustice; every morning he shows forth his justice; each dawn he does not fail; but the unjust knows no shame |
| 3:6 |
I have cut off nations; their battlements are in ruins; I have laid waste their streets so that noneno one walks in them; their cities have been made desolate without a man without an inhabitant |
| 3:7 |
I said Surely sheyou will fear me; sheyou will accept correction; sheThen willyour dwelling would not losebe sightcut ofoff according to all that I have enjoinedappointed uponagainst heryou But all the more they were eager to make all their deeds corrupt |
| 3:8 |
Therefore wait for me saysdeclares the Lord for the day when I ariserise asup ato witnessseize the prey For my decision is to gather nations to assemble kingdoms to pour out upon them my indignation all themy heatburning of my anger; for in the fire of my jealousjealousy wrath all the earth shall be consumed |
| 3:9 |
YeaFor at that time I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech that all of them may call onupon the name of the Lord and serve him with one accord |
| 3:10 |
From beyond the rivers of EthiopiaCush my suppliantsworshipers the daughter of my dispersed ones shall bring my offering |
| 3:12 |
ForBut I will leave in theyour midst of you a people humble and lowly They shall seek refuge in the name of the Lord |
| 3:13 |
those who are left in Israel; they shall do no wronginjustice and utterspeak no lies nor shall there be found in their mouth a deceitful tongue For they shall pasturegraze and lie down and none shall make them afraid |
| 3:15 |
The Lord has taken away the judgments against you; he has castcleared outaway your enemies The King of Israel the Lord is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil no more |
| 3:16 |
On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: DoFear not fear O Zion; let not your hands grow weak |
| 3:17 |
The Lord your God is in your midst a warriormighty one who giveswill victorysave; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will renewquiet you inby his love; he will exult over you with loud singing |
| 3:18 |
I aswill ongather athose day of festivalyou Iwho willmourn removefor disasterthe fromfestival you so that you will notno bearlonger suffer reproach for it |
| 3:20 |
At that time I will bring you homein at the time when I gather you together; yeafor I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth when I restore your fortunes before your eyes says the Lord |