Zephaniah 3
3
Woe to Oppressive Jerusalem
1Woe to the city that is rebellious#3:1 Or filthy#Ex 23:21; Dt 9:24; Ps 106:43 and defiled,#Is 59:3
the oppressive city!
2She has not obeyed;#1Sm 15:22
she has not accepted discipline.#Jb 5:17
She has not trusted#Pr 3:5 in the Lord;
she has not drawn near to her God.
3The#3:3 Lit Her princes within her are roaring lions;#Ezk 22:25
her judges are wolves of the night,#Hab 1:8; Mt 7:15; Ac 20:29
which leave nothing for#3:3 Or that had nothing to gnaw in the morning.
4Her prophets are reckless#Jdg 9:4 —
treacherous men.
Her priests profane the sanctuary;
they do violence to instruction.#Ezk 22:26
5The righteous Lord is in her;#Ps 129:4
he does no wrong.#Ps 92:15
He applies his justice morning by morning;
he does not fail at dawn,
yet the one who does wrong knows no shame.#Jr 8:12
6I have cut off nations;
their corner towers#Zph 1:16 are destroyed.
I have laid waste their streets,
with no one to pass through.
Their cities lie devastated,
without a person, without an inhabitant.#Jr 44:2; Zph 2:5
7I said: You will certainly fear me
and accept correction.
Then her dwelling place#3:7 LXX, Syr read her eyes
would not be cut off
based on all that I had allocated to her.
However, they became more corrupt
in all their actions.
8Therefore, wait for me#Jb 3:21; Ps 33:20; Is 8:17; 30:18; 64:4 —
this is the Lord’s declaration —
until the day I rise up for plunder.#3:8 LXX, Syr read for a witness; Vg reads up forever
For my decision is to gather nations,
to assemble kingdoms,
in order to pour out my indignation#Ps 69:24; Ezk 21:31; 22:31; Nah 1:6 on them,
all my burning anger;
for the whole earth will be consumed
by the fire of my jealousy.#Dt 29:20; Ps 79:5; Zch 1:14; 8:2
Final Restoration Promised
9For I will then restore
pure#Dn 12:10 speech to the peoples
so that all of them may call
on the name of the Lord
and serve him with a single purpose.#3:9 Lit with one shoulder
10From beyond the rivers of Cush#Is 18:1–3
my supplicants, my dispersed people,
will bring an offering to me.
11On that day you#3:11 = Israel will not be put to shame#Gn 2:25; 2Sm 19:5; Ps 25:3
because of everything you have done
in rebelling#Is 1:2 against me.
For then I will remove
from among you your jubilant,#Jr 48:29 arrogant people,
and you will never again be haughty
on my holy mountain.#Is 11:9
12I will leave
a meek and humble people#Is 66:2 among you,
and they will take refuge in the name of the Lord.
13The remnant#Gn 45:7; 2Kg 19:31; Jr 23:3 of Israel will no longer
do wrong or tell lies;
a deceitful tongue will not be found
in their mouths.
They will pasture and lie down,
with nothing to make them afraid.#Gn 42:28; Jr 50:19; Ezk 34:14; Mc 4:4; 7:14
14Sing for joy, Daughter Zion;
shout loudly, Israel!
Be glad and celebrate with all your heart,
Daughter Jerusalem!
15The Lord has removed your punishment;
he has turned back your enemy.
The King of Israel, the Lord, is among you;
you need no longer fear harm.
16On that day it will be said to Jerusalem:
“Do not fear;
Zion, do not let your hands grow weak.#Jr 6:24; 50:43
17The Lord your God is among you,
a warrior#Jos 1:14; Jb 16:14; Ps 78:65 who saves.
He will rejoice over you#Dt 28:63; 30:9 with gladness.
He will be quiet#3:17 LXX, Syr read He will renew you in his love.
He will delight in you with singing.”#Ps 30:5
18I will gather those who have been driven#Lm 1:4–5; 3:33
from the appointed festivals;
they will be a tribute from you#3:18 = Jerusalem
and a reproach on her.#3:18 Hb obscure
19Yes, at that time
I will deal with all who oppress you.
I will save the lame#Ex 14:30 and gather the outcasts;#Mc 4:6
I will make those who were disgraced
throughout the earth
receive praise and fame.
20At that time I will bring you#3:20 = people of Israel back,
yes, at the time I will gather you.
I will give you fame and praise
among all the peoples of the earth,
when I restore your fortunes#Jb 42:10; Jr 29:14; Ezk 39:25; Hs 6:11; Jl 3:1 before your eyes.
The Lord has spoken.
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Zephaniah 3: CSB
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