Zephaniah 3
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Holman Christian Standard BibleNew International Version
1Woe to the city that is rebellious and defiled, the oppressive city! 1Woe to the city of oppressors, rebellious and defiled!
2She has not obeyed; she has not accepted discipline. She has not trusted in Yahweh; she has not drawn near to her God. 2She obeys no one, she accepts no correction. She does not trust in the LORD, she does not draw near to her God.
3The princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are wolves of the night, which leave nothing for the morning. 3Her officials within her are roaring lions; her rulers are evening wolves, who leave nothing for the morning.
4Her prophets are reckless-- treacherous men. Her priests profane the sanctuary; they do violence to instruction. 4Her prophets are unprincipled; they are treacherous people. Her priests profane the sanctuary and do violence to the law.
5The righteous LORD is in her; He does no wrong. He applies His justice morning by morning; He does not fail at dawn, yet the one who does wrong knows no shame. 5The LORD within her is righteous; he does no wrong. Morning by morning he dispenses his justice, and every new day he does not fail, yet the unrighteous know no shame.
6I have cut off nations; their corner towers are destroyed. I have laid waste their streets, with no one to pass through. Their cities lie devastated, without a person, without an inhabitant. 6"I have destroyed nations; their strongholds are demolished. I have left their streets deserted, with no one passing through. Their cities are laid waste; they are deserted and empty.
7I thought: You will certainly fear Me and accept correction. Then her dwelling place would not be cut off based on all that I had allocated to her. However, they became more corrupt in all their actions. 7Of Jerusalem I thought, 'Surely you will fear me and accept correction!' Then her place of refuge would not be destroyed, nor all my punishments come upon her. But they were still eager to act corruptly in all they did.
8Therefore, wait for Me-- this is the LORD's declaration-- until the day I rise up for plunder. For My decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, in order to pour out My indignation on them, all My burning anger; for the whole earth will be consumed by the fire of My jealousy. 8Therefore wait for me," declares the LORD, "for the day I will stand up to testify. I have decided to assemble the nations, to gather the kingdoms and to pour out my wrath on them-- all my fierce anger. The whole world will be consumed by the fire of my jealous anger.
9For I will then restore pure speech to the peoples so that all of them may call on the name of Yahweh and serve Him with a single purpose. 9"Then I will purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the LORD and serve him shoulder to shoulder.
10From beyond the rivers of Cush My supplicants, My dispersed people, will bring an offering to Me. 10From beyond the rivers of Cush my worshipers, my scattered people, will bring me offerings.
11On that day you will not be put to shame because of everything you have done in rebelling against Me. For then I will remove your proud, arrogant people from among you, and you will never again be haughty on My holy mountain. 11On that day you, Jerusalem, will not be put to shame for all the wrongs you have done to me, because I will remove from you your arrogant boasters. Never again will you be haughty on my holy hill.
12I will leave a meek and humble people among you, and they will take refuge in the name of Yahweh. 12But I will leave within you the meek and humble. The remnant of Israel will trust in the name of the LORD.
13The remnant of Israel will no longer do wrong or tell lies; a deceitful tongue will not be found in their mouths. But they will pasture and lie down, with nothing to make them afraid. 13They will do no wrong; they will tell no lies. A deceitful tongue will not be found in their mouths. They will eat and lie down and no one will make them afraid."
14Sing for joy, Daughter Zion; shout loudly, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem! 14Sing, Daughter Zion; shout aloud, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem!
15The LORD has removed your punishment; He has turned back your enemy. The King of Israel, Yahweh, is among you; you need no longer fear harm. 15The LORD has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy. The LORD, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm.
16On that day it will be said to Jerusalem:" Do not fear; Zion, do not let your hands grow weak. 16On that day they will say to Jerusalem, "Do not fear, Zion; do not let your hands hang limp.
17Yahweh your God is among you, a warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will bring you quietness with His love. He will delight in you with shouts of joy." 17The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing."
18I will gather those who have been driven from the appointed festivals; they will be a tribute from you and a reproach on her. 18"I will remove from you all who mourn over the loss of your appointed festivals, which is a burden and reproach for you.
19Yes, at that time I will deal with all who afflict you. I will save the lame and gather the scattered; I will make those who were disgraced throughout the earth receive praise and fame. 19At that time I will deal with all who oppressed you. I will rescue the lame; I will gather the exiles. I will give them praise and honor in every land where they have suffered shame.
20At that time I will bring you back, yes, at the time I will gather you. I will give you fame and praise among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes. Yahweh has spoken. 20At that time I will gather you; at that time I will bring you home. I will give you honor and praise among all the peoples of the earth when I restore your fortunes before your very eyes," says the LORD.
Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.New International Version (NIV)

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Zephaniah 2
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