Zephaniah

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

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

³ Her judges are wolves at evening; They leave nothing to gnaw for the morning.

⁴ Her priests have profaned the sanctuary. They have done violence to the law.

⁵ He will do no injustice. Every morning He brings His justice to light; He does not fail. But the unjust knows no shame.

⁶ 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 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 That all of them may call on the name of Yahweh, To serve Him shoulder to shoulder.

¹⁰ My worshipers, My scattered ones, Will bring My offerings.

¹¹ 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 A lowly and poor people, And they will take refuge in the name of Yahweh.

¹³ 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.”

¹⁴ Sing for joy, O daughter of Zion! Make a loud shout, O Israel! Be glad and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!

¹⁵ He has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, Yahweh, is in your midst; You will fear evil no more.

¹⁶ “Do not fear, O Zion; Do not let your hands fall limp.

¹⁷ A mighty one who will save. He will be joyful over you with gladness; He will be quiet in His love; He will rejoice over you with joyful singing.

¹⁸ They were from you, O Zion; The reproach of exile is a burden on them.

¹⁹ With all those who afflict you, And I will save the lame And gather the banished, And I will turn them—in their shame—into praise and a name In all the earth.

²⁰ Even at the time when I gather you together; Indeed, I will give you to be a name and praise Among all the peoples of the earth, When I restore your fortunes before your eyes,” Says Yahweh.