Zephaniah 1:2-18 ▼

2 “I utterly consume all from off the face of the ground,” || A declaration of YHWH.

3 “I consume man and beast, || I consume bird of the heavens, and fishes of the sea, || And the stumbling-blocks—the wicked, || And I have cut off man from the face of the ground,” || A declaration of YHWH,

4 “And I have stretched out My hand against Judah, || And against all inhabiting Jerusalem, || And cut off from this place the remnant of Ba‘al, || The name of the idolatrous priests, with the priests,

5 And those bowing themselves || On the roofs to the host of the heavens, || And those bowing themselves, || Swearing to YHWH, and swearing by Malcham,

6 And those removing from after YHWH, || And who have not sought YHWH, nor implored Him.”

7 Hush! Because of Lord YHWH, || For near [is the] Day of YHWH, || For YHWH has prepared a sacrifice, || He has sanctified His invited ones.

8 “And it has come to pass, || In the day of the sacrifice of YHWH, || That I have laid a charge on the heads, || And on sons of the king, || And on all putting on strange clothing.

9 And I have laid a charge on everyone || Who is leaping over the threshold in that day, || Who are filling the house of their masters || [With] violence and deceit.

10 And there has been in that day,” || A declaration of YHWH, || “The noise of a cry from the Fish Gate, || And of a howling from the Second [Quarter], || And of great destruction from the hills.

11 Howl, you inhabitants of the hollow place, || For all the merchant people have been cut off, || All carrying silver have been cut off.

12 And it has come to pass at that time, || I search Jerusalem with lights, || And I have laid a charge on the men || Who are hardened on their preserved things, || Who are saying in their heart: YHWH does no good, nor does He do evil.

13 And their wealth has been for a spoil, || And their houses for desolation, || And they have built houses, and do not inhabit, || And they have planted vineyards, || And they do not drink their wine.”

14 Near [is] the Great Day of YHWH, || Near, and hastening exceedingly, || The noise of the Day of YHWH, || There a mighty one bitterly shrieks.

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 gloominess, || A day of cloud and thick darkness,

16 A day of horn and shouting against the fortified cities, || And against the high corners.

17 “And I have sent distress to men, || And they have walked as the blind, || For against YHWH they have sinned, || And poured out is their blood as dust, || And their flesh [is] as dung.”

18 Even their silver, even their gold, is not able to deliver them in a day of the wrath of YHWH, and in the fire of His jealousy is the whole land consumed, for He makes only a hurried end of all the inhabitants of the land!