Zephaniah 1:2-18 ▼

2 “Removing I will bring to an end everything from the face of the earth,” a declaration of YHWH.

3 “I will bring to an end man and beast; I will bring to an end the birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea and the stumbling blocks with the wicked; and I will cut off mankind from the face of the earth,” a declaration of YHWH.

4 “And I will stretch out My hand against Judah, and against all those dwelling in Jerusalem; I will cut off from this place the remnant of Baal, and the names of the idolatrous priests, with the priests,

5 and those bowing down on the housetops to the host of the heavens, and those bowing down swearing to YHWH, and swearing to Milcom,

6 and those having turned from after YHWH, and who have not sought YHWH and not having inquired of Him.”

7 Be silent before the face of the Lord YHWH, for the day of YHWH is near, for YHWH has prepared a sacrifice; He has consecrated those called by Him.

8 “And it will come to pass in the day of the sacrifice of YHWH that I will visit punishment on the princes and on the sons of the king and on all those clothing themselves with foreign apparel.

9 And I will visit punishment on all those leaping over the threshold on that day, those filling the house of their masters with violence and deceit.

10 And it will come to pass on that day,” a declaration of YHWH, “The voice of an outcry from the Gate of the Fish, and a wailing from the Mishneh, and a great crashing from the hills.

11 Wail, O dwellers of the Maktesh! For all the merchant people are destroyed; all the bearers of silver are cut off.

12 And it will come to pass, at that time that I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will visit punishment upon the men settled in their dregs, those saying in their heart, ‘YHWH does no good, and He will not bring evil.’

13 And their wealth will become as plunder, and their houses as a desolation; they will build houses, and they will not dwell; they will plant vineyards, and they will not drink their wine.

14 Near is the great day of YHWH—near, and hastening exceedingly; the noise of the day of YHWH is bitter, then cries out the mighty.

15 A day of wrath is that day, a day of adversity and distress, a day of devastation and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of cloud and thick darkness,

16 a day of shofar and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the high corners.

17 And I will bring distress to mankind, and they will walk like the blind, for against YHWH they have sinned; and their blood will be poured out like the dust, and their flesh like dung!

18 Even their silver, even their gold, will not be able to deliver them on the day of the wrath of YHWH; and by the fire of His jealousy will be consumed all the earth, for indeed He will make a sudden end of all those dwelling on the earth!”