| 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′ahKing theJosiah son of Amon king of Judah |
| 1:3 |
I will sweep away manhumans and beastanimals; I will sweep away the birds of the air and the fish of the sea I will overthrowmake the wicked; stumble I will cut off mankindhumanity from the face of the earth says 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 theevery remnant of Ba′alBaal and the name of the idolatrous 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 andbut yetalso swear by Milcom; |
| 1:6 |
those who have turned back from following the Lord who dohave not seeksought the Lord or inquireinquired of him |
| 1:7 |
Be silent before the Lord God For the day of the Lord is at hand; the Lord has prepared a sacrifice andhe has consecrated his guests |
| 1:8 |
And on the day of the Lords sacrifice— I will punish the officials and the kings sons and all who arraydress themselves in foreign attire |
| 1:9 |
On that day I will punish everyall one who leapsleap over the threshold and those who fill their masters house with violence and fraud |
| 1:11 |
WailThe O inhabitants of the Mortar Forwail for all the traders arehave no moreperished; all who weigh out silver are cut off |
| 1:12 |
At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and I will punish the menpeople who arerest thickeningcomplacently uponon their leesdregs those who say in their hearts The Lord will not do good nor will he do illharm |
| 1:13 |
Their goodswealth shall be plundered and their houses laid waste Though they build houses they shall not inhabit them; though they plant vineyards they shall not drink wine from them |
| 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 mightywarrior man cries aloud there |
| 1:15 |
AThat day ofwill wrathbe isa that day of wrath a day of distress and anguish a day of ruin and devastation a day of darkness and gloom a day of clouds and thick darkness |
| 1:16 |
a day of trumpet blast and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the lofty battlements |
| 1:17 |
I will bring such distress onupon menpeople 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 shallwill be able to deliversave them on the day of the Lords wrath; ofin the Lord In the fire of his jealouspassion wraththe allwhole the earth shall be consumed; for a full yeaa suddenterrible end he will make of all the inhabitants of the earth |
| 2:1 |
ComeGather together andgather hold assembly O shameless nation |
| 2:2 |
before you are driven away like the drifting chaff before there comes upon you the fierce anger of the Lord before there comes upon you the day of the Lords wrath of the Lord |
| 2:3 |
Seek the Lord all you humble of the land who do his commands; seek righteousness seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the Lords wrath 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 |
WoeAh 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 |
| 2:7 |
The seacoast shall become the possession of the remnant of the house of Judah on which they shall pasture 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 says 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 |
| 2:11 |
The Lord will be terrible against them; yea he will famishshrivel all the gods of the earth and to him shall bow down each in its place all the landscoasts and islands of the nations |
| 2:12 |
You also O Ethiopians shall be slainkilled 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 theit midstevery ofwild heranimal; all the beastsdesert ofowl theand field; the vulturescreech andowl the hedgehog shall lodge inon herits capitals; the owl shall hoot inat the window the raven croak on the threshold; for herits cedar work will be laid bare |
| 2:15 |
ThisIs isthis the exultant city that dweltlived secure that said to herselfitself I am and there is noneno one else What a desolation sheit has become a lair for wild beastsanimals EveryEveryone one who passes by herit hisses and shakes histhe fist |
| 3:1 |
WoeAh tosoiled her that is rebellious and defiled the oppressing city |
| 3:2 |
SheIt listenshas listened to no voice; sheit acceptshas accepted no correction SheIt doeshas not trusttrusted in the Lord; sheit doeshas not drawdrawn near to herits God |
| 3:3 |
HerThe officials within herit are roaring lions; herits judges are evening wolves that leave nothing tilluntil the morning |
| 3:4 |
HerIts prophets are wantonreckless faithless menpersons; herits priests profanehave profaned what is sacred they dohave done violence to the law |
| 3:5 |
The Lord within herit is righteous; he does no wrong; everyEvery morning he showsrenders forth his justicejudgment each dawn hewithout 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 apeople man without an inhabitantinhabitants |
| 3:7 |
I said Surely shethe city will fear me sheit will accept correction; sheit will not lose sight of all that I have enjoinedbrought upon herit But allthey were the more they were eager to make all their deeds corrupt |
| 3:8 |
Therefore wait for me says the Lord for the day when I arise as a witness For my decision is to gather nations to assemble kingdoms to pour out upon them my indignation all the heat of my anger; for in the fire of my jealouspassion wrath all the earth shall be consumed |
| 3:9 |
YeaAt at that time I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech that all of them may call on the name of the Lord and serve him with one accord |
| 3:10 |
From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants the daughter of my dispersedscattered ones shall bring my offering |
| 3:11 |
On that day you shall not be put to shame because of all the deeds by which you have rebelled against me; for then I will remove from your midst your proudly exultant ones and you shall no longer be haughty in my holy mountain |
| 3:12 |
For I will leave in the midst of you a people humble and lowly They shall seek refuge in the name of the Lord— |
| 3:13 |
the thoseremnant whoof are left in Israel; they shall do no wrong and utter no lies nor shall therea deceitful tongue be found in their mouthmouths aThen deceitful tongue For they shallwill pasture and lie down and noneno one shall make them afraid |
| 3:14 |
Sing aloud O daughter of Zion; shout O Israel Rejoice and exult with all your heart O daughter of Jerusalem |
| 3:15 |
The Lord has taken away the judgments against you he has castturned outaway your enemies The Kingking of Israel the Lord is in your midst; you shall fear evildisaster no more |
| 3:16 |
On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: Do not fear O Zion; letdo not let your hands grow weak |
| 3:18 |
as on a day of festival I will remove disaster from you so that you will not bear reproach for it |
| 3:19 |
Behold at that time I will deal with all your oppressors at that time And I will save the lame and gather the outcast and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth |
| 3:20 |
At that time I will bring you home 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 |