Zephaniah 1:1-13

This is the prophetic message YAHWEH gave to Zephaniah son of Cushi, grandson of Gedaliah, great-grandson of Amariah, great-great-grandson of Hezekiah. Zephaniah received this message during the time when Josiah, the son of Amon, ruled Judah. “I, YAHWEH, declare that I will certainly sweep away every living thing from the land— animals and humans, birds and fish. I will topple the wicked and their idols and sweep away man from the land.” “I will punish Judah and all who live in Jerusalem. I will wipe out every trace of Baal from the land along with the names of the pagan priests or any priest who has turned away from me. I will punish those who bow down on their rooftops to worship the sun, moon, and stars and those with divided loyalties who bow before YAHWEH and swear allegiance to me but also swear their oaths in the name of their king. I, YAHWEH, will punish those who have turned their back on me, who do not seek me nor pray for me to guide them.” YAHWEH Be silent before the Lord God, for the day of YAHWEH is near. “I have prepared a sacrifice and have consecrated my invited guests. On the day of YAHWEH’s sacrifice, I will punish the royal family, your officials, and all who dress like pagan priests. At that time, I will punish all who worship Dagon and fill the palace of their rulers with violence and deception. “I, YAHWEH, declare: A cry for help will be heard from the Fish Gate in Jerusalem, wailing from the wealthier, newer part of the city. A loud crash will echo from the hills. Wail, you who live in the market area because all the merchants will be dead, and those who weigh out silver will be wiped out. “When that time comes, I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish those stagnating in their self-satisfied smugness. They say in their hearts, ‘YAHWEH is aloof and can do nothing for us, either good or bad.’ Yet all their hoarded wealth will be looted and their houses leveled. They will build houses but never move in, plant vineyards but never drink the wine.”