Zephaniah 2:1-9 ▼

1 Gather yourselves together; gather together, undesirable nation,

2 before the decree takes effect and the day passes like chaff, before the burning of the LORD’s anger overtakes you, before the day of the LORD’s anger overtakes you.

3 Seek the LORD, all you humble of the earth, who carry out what He commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be concealed on the day of the LORD’s anger.

4 For Gaza will be abandoned, and Ashkelon will become a ruin. Ashdod will be driven out at noon, and Ekron will be uprooted.

5 Woe, inhabitants of the seacoast, nation of the Cherethites! The word of the LORD is against you, Canaan, land of the Philistines: I will destroy you until there is no one left.

6 The seacoast will become pasturelands with caves for shepherds and folds for sheep.

7 The coastland will belong to the remnant of the house of Judah; they will find pasture there. They will lie down in the evening among the houses of Ashkelon, for the LORD their God will return to them and restore their fortunes.

8 I have heard the taunting of Moab and the insults of the Ammonites, who have taunted My people and threatened their territory.

9 Therefore, as I live— this is the declaration of the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel— Moab will be like Sodom and the Ammonites like Gomorrah— a place overgrown with weeds, a salt pit, and a perpetual wasteland. The remnant of My people will plunder them; the remainder of My nation will dispossess them.