Zephaniah 3:1-13 ▼

1 Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled, The oppressive city!

2 She did not listen to any voice; She did not receive discipline. She did not trust in Yahweh; She did not draw near to her God.

3 Her princes in her midst are roaring lions; Her judges are wolves at evening; They leave nothing to gnaw for the morning.

4 Her prophets are reckless, treacherous men; Her priests have profaned the sanctuary. They have done violence to the law.

5 Yahweh is righteous in her midst; He will do no injustice. Every morning He brings His justice to light; He does not fail. But the unjust knows no shame.

6 “I have cut off nations; Their corner towers are desolate. I have made their streets a waste, With no one passing by; Their cities are laid waste, Without a man, without an inhabitant.

7 I said, ‘Surely you will fear Me, Receive discipline.’ So her abode will not be cut off According to all that I have appointed concerning her. But they were eager to corrupt all their deeds.

8 “Therefore wait for Me,” declares Yahweh, “For the day when I rise up as a witness. Indeed, My judgment is to assemble nations, To gather kingdoms, To pour out on them My indignation, All My burning anger; For all the earth will be devoured By the fire of My zeal.

9 For then I will change them to peoples with purified lips, That all of them may call on the name of Yahweh, To serve Him shoulder to shoulder.

10 From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia My worshipers, My scattered ones, Will bring My offerings.

11 In that day you will feel no shame Because of all your deeds By which you have transgressed against Me; For then I will remove from your midst Your proud, exulting ones, And you will never again be haughty On My holy mountain.

12 But I will cause to remain in your midst A lowly and poor people, And they will take refuge in the name of Yahweh.

13 The remnant of Israel will do no injustice And not speak falsehood, Nor will a deceitful tongue Be found in their mouths; For they will feed and lie down With no one to make them tremble.”