Zephaniah 3

Judgment on Jerusalem

^{verse 1}Woe to the city of oppressors,

rebellious and defiled!

^{verse 2}She heeded no voice;

she accepted no correction.

She does not trust in the LORD;

she has not drawn near to her God.

^{verse 3}Her princes are roaring lions;

her judges are evening wolves,

leaving nothing for the morning.

^{verse 4}Her prophets are reckless,

faithless men.

Her priests profane the sanctuary;

they do violence to the law.

^{verse 5}The LORD within her is righteous;

He does no wrong.

He applies His justice morning by morning;

He does not fail at dawn,

yet the unjust know no shame.

Purification of the Nations

^{verse 6}“I have cut off the nations;

their corner towers are destroyed.

I have made their streets deserted

with no one to pass through.

Their cities are laid waste,

with no man, no inhabitant.

^{verse 7}I said, ‘Surely you will fear Me

and accept correction.’

Then her dwelling place would not be cut off

despite all for which I punished her.

But they rose early

to corrupt all their deeds.

^{verse 8}Therefore wait for Me,”

declares the LORD,

“until the day

I rise to testify.^a

For My decision is to gather nations,

to assemble kingdoms,

to pour out upon them My indignation —

all My burning anger.

For all the earth will be consumed

by the fire of My jealousy.

A Faithful Remnant

^{verse 9}For then I will restore

pure lips to the peoples,

that all may call upon the name of the LORD

and serve Him shoulder to shoulder.

^{verse 10}From beyond the rivers of Cush^b

My worshipers, My scattered people,

will bring Me an offering.

^{verse 11}On that day you will not be put to shame

for any of the deeds

by which you have transgressed against Me.

For then I will remove from among you

those who rejoice in their pride,

and you will never again be haughty

on My holy mountain.

^{verse 12}But I will leave within you a meek and humble people,

and they will trust in the name of the LORD.

^{verse 13}The remnant of Israel

will no longer do wrong or speak lies,

nor will a deceitful tongue

be found in their mouths.

But they will feed and lie down,

with no one to make them tremble.”

Israel’s Restoration

^{verse 14}Sing for joy, O Daughter of Zion;

shout aloud, O Israel!

Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,

O Daughter of Jerusalem!

^{verse 15}The LORD has taken away your punishment;

He has turned back your enemy.

Israel’s King, the LORD, is among you;

no longer will you fear any harm.

^{verse 16}On that day they will say to Jerusalem:

“Do not fear, O Zion;

do not let your hands fall limp.

^{verse 17}The LORD your God is among you;

He is mighty to save.

He will rejoice over you with gladness;

He will quiet you with His love;^c

He will rejoice over you with singing.”

^{verse 18}“I will gather those among you who grieve

over the appointed feasts,

so that you will no longer suffer reproach.

^{verse 19}Behold, at that time,

I will deal with all who afflict you.

I will save the lame

and gather the scattered;

and I will appoint praise and fame

for the disgraced throughout the earth.

^{verse 20}At that time I will bring you in;

yes, at that time I will gather you.

For I will give you fame and praise

among all the peoples of the earth

when I restore your captives^d

before your very eyes,”

says the LORD.