The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Zephaniah 3
1 Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted,
the oppressing city!
2 She didn’t obey the voice. She didn’t
receive correction. She didn’t trust in Yahweh.
She didn’t draw near to her God.
3 Her princes within her are roaring lions.
Her judges are evening wolves. They
leave nothing until the next day.
4 Her prophets are arrogant and treacherous
people. Her priests have profaned the sanctuary.
They have done violence to the law.
5 Yahweh, within her, is righteous. He
willdono wrong. Everymorninghebrings
his justice to light. He doesn’t fail, but the
unjust know no shame.
6 I have cut off nations. Their battlements
are desolate. I have made their
streets waste, so that no one passes by.
Their cities are destroyed, so that there is
no man, so that there is no inhabitant.
7 I said, “Just fear me. Receive correction,”
so that her dwelling won’t be cut
off, according to all that I have appointed
concerning her. But they rose early and
corrupted all their doings.
8 “Therefore wait for me”, says Yahweh,
“until the day that I rise up to the prey, for
my determination is to gather the nations,
that I may assemble the kingdoms to pour
on them my indignation, even all my fierce
anger, for all the earth will be devoured
with the fire of my jealousy.
9 For then I will purify the lips of the
peoples, that they may all call on Yahweh’s
name, to serve him shoulder to shoulder.
10 From beyond the rivers of Cush, my
worshipers, even the daughter of my
dispersed people, will bring my offering.
11 In that day you will not be disappointed
for all your doings in which you
have transgressed against me; for then I
will take away out from among you your
proudly exulting ones, and you will no
more be arrogant in my holy mountain.
12 But I will leave among you an afflicted
and poor people, and they will take refuge
in Yahweh’s name.
13 The remnant of Israel will not do iniquity
nor speak lies, neither will a deceitful
tongue be found in their mouth, for they
will feed and lie down, and no one will
make them afraid.”
14 Sing, daughter of Zion! Shout, Israel!
Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,
daughter of Jerusalem.
15 Yahweh has taken away your judgments.
He has thrown out your enemy.
The King of Israel, Yahweh, is among you.
You will not be afraid of evil any more.
16 In that day, it will be said to Jerusalem,
“Don’t be afraid, Zion. Don’t let your hands
be weak.”
17 Yahweh, your God, is among you, a
mighty one who will save. He will rejoice
over you with joy. He will calm you in his
love. He will rejoice over you with singing.
18 I will remove those who grieve about
the appointed feasts from you. They are a
burden and a reproach to you.
19 Behold,† at that time I will deal with
all those who afflict you; and I will save
those who are lame and gather those who
were driven away. I will give them praise
and honor, whose shame has been in all
the earth.
20 At that time I will bring you in, and
at that time I will gather you; for I will
give you honor and praise among all the
peoples of the earth when I restore your
fortunes before your eyes, says Yahweh.