Zephaniah 3:1-13 ▼

1 Woe to this filthy, polluted, and oppressive city!

2 It won't obey anyone. It won't accept discipline. It does not trust in the LORD. It does not approach God.

3 Its national officials are roaring lions; its judges are like wolves of the night that don't leave the bones for the morning.

4 Its prophets are arrogant and treacherous. Its priests have contaminated the sanctuary. They give perverse interpretations of the Law.

5 The righteous LORD who lives within her will do no wrong; he will bring justice to light morning by morning. He never fails, but the unjust are shameless.

6 |I have destroyed nations— their fortifications are deserted. I have turned their main thoroughfares into wastelands where no one will travel. Their cities are desolate; as a result, not one man remains— no, not even a single resident.

7 I have said, 'If only you would fear me, if only you would take my instructions to heart.' Then their houses would not have been torn down. I have chastened them, but they were eager to corrupt everything they were doing.|

8 |Just you wait!| declares the LORD. |The day will come when I stand up as a prosecutor, for I am determined to assemble the nations and to gather the kingdoms, in order to pour out my indignation upon them— all of my fierce anger. All the earth will be consumed by the fire of my jealousy.

9 Indeed, then I will return my people to a pure language so that they all may call upon the name of the LORD, serving him with a united will.

10 |From beyond the rivers of Sudan my worshipers — including my dispersed people— will present offerings to me.

11 When this happens, you will not be ashamed of your actions by which you sinned against me, because I will remove from among you those who revel in pride. Arrogance will have no place in my holy mountain.

12 I will keep a humble and gentle people among you, and they will trust in the name of the LORD.

13 The survivors of Israel will not practice lawlessness nor tell lies, nor will a deceitful message be found in their mouths, because they will eat and rest, with no one to cause fear.|