Zephaniah 3
3
Sinful Jerusalem
1Too bad for that disgusting,
corrupt, and lawless city!
2Forever rebellious
and rejecting correction,
Jerusalem refuses to trust
or obey the Lord God.
3Its officials are roaring lions,
its judges are wolves;
in the evening they attack,
by morning nothing is left.
4Jerusalem's prophets are proud
and not to be trusted.
The priests have disgraced
the place of worship
and abused God's Law.
5All who do evil are shameless,
but the Lord does right
and is always fair.
With the dawn of each day,
God brings about justice.
6The Lord wiped out nations
and left fortresses
crumbling in the dirt.
Their streets and towns
were reduced to ruins
and emptied of people.
7God felt certain that Jerusalem
would learn to respect
and obey him.
Then he would hold back
from punishing the city
and not wipe it out.
But everyone there was eager
to start sinning again.
Nations Will Turn to the Lord
8The Lord said:
Just wait for the day
when I accuse you nations.
I have decided on a day,
when I will bring together
every nation and kingdom
and punish them all
in my fiery anger.
I will become furious
and destroy the earth.
9I will purify each language
and make those languages
acceptable for praising me.#3.9 I will … praising me: Or “I will change the hearts of all people and make them fit for praising me.”
Then, with hearts united,
everyone will serve
only me, the Lord.
10From across the rivers
of Ethiopia,#3.10 Ethiopia: See the note at 2.12.
my scattered people,
my true worshipers,
will bring offerings to me.
11When that time comes,
you won't rebel against me
and be put to shame.
I'll do away with those
who are proud and arrogant.
Never will any of them
strut around
on my holy mountain.
12But I, the Lord, won't destroy
any of your people
who are truly humble
and turn to me for safety.
13 #
Rev 14.5. The people of Israel who survive
will live right
and refuse to tell lies.
They will eat and rest
with nothing to fear.
A Song of Celebration
14Everyone in Jerusalem and Judah,
celebrate and shout
with all your heart!
15Zion, your punishment is over.
The Lord has forced your enemies
to turn and retreat.
Your Lord is King of Israel
and stands at your side;
you don't have to worry
about any more troubles.
16Jerusalem, the time is coming,
when it will be said to you:
“Don't be discouraged
or grow weak from fear!
17The Lord your God
wins victory after victory
and is always with you.
He celebrates and sings
because of you,
and he will refresh your life
with his love.”#3.17 refresh … love: Two ancient translations; Hebrew “silently show you his love.”
The Lord's Promise to His People
18The Lord has promised:
Your sorrow has ended,
and you can celebrate.#3.18 celebrate: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 18.
19I will punish those
who mistreat you.
I will bring together the lame
and the outcasts,
then they will be praised,
instead of despised,
in every country on earth.
20I will lead you home,
and with your own eyes
you will see me bless you
with all you once owned.
Then you will be famous
everywhere on this earth.
I, the Lord, have spoken!
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Zephaniah 3: CEVDCI
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.
Zephaniah 3
3
Judgment against Jerusalem
1Doom, obstinate one,
the defiled one,
the violent city.
2She listened to no voice;
she accepted no discipline.
She didn’t trust in the LORD,
nor did she draw near to her God.
3The princes in her midst are roaring lions.
Her judges are wolves of the evening;
they leave nothing for the morning.
4Her prophets are reckless, men of treachery.
Her priests pollute that which is holy;
they do violence to the Instruction.
5The LORD is righteous in her midst.
He does nothing unjust.
Morning by morning he renders justice,
but the unrighteous one knows no shame.
6I will cut off nations;
their towers will be destroyed;
I will devastate their streets.
No one will pass through.
Their cities will be laid waste.
There will be no person, no inhabitant left.
7I said, “Surely, she will fear me;
she will take instruction
so that her habitation won’t be cut off#3.7 Heb uncertain
because of everything I did to her.”
However, they rose early to corrupt their deeds.
8Therefore, wait for me, says the LORD,
wait for the day when I rise up as a witness,#3.8 LXX; MT it
when I decide to gather nations,
to collect kingdoms,
to pour out my indignation upon them,
all the heat of my anger.
In the fire of my jealousy,
all the earth will be devoured.
Restoration of the nations and Jerusalem
9Then I will change the speech of the peoples into pure speech,
that all of them will call on the name of the LORD
and will serve him as one.#3.9 Or with one shoulder
10From beyond the rivers of Cush,
my daughter, my dispersed ones, will bring me offerings.
11On that day, you won’t be ashamed of all your deeds
with which you sinned against me;
then I will remove from your midst those boasting with pride.
No longer will you be haughty on my holy mountain,
12but I will cause a humble and powerless people to remain in your midst;
they will seek refuge in the name of the LORD.
13The few remaining from Israel won’t commit injustice;
they won’t tell lies;
a deceitful tongue won’t be found on their lips.
They will graze and lie down;
no one will make them afraid.
14Rejoice, Daughter Zion! Shout, Israel!
Rejoice and exult with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem.
15The LORD has removed your judgment;
he has turned away your enemy.
The LORD, the king of Israel, is in your midst;
you will no longer fear evil.
16On that day, it will be said to Jerusalem:
Don’t fear, Zion.
Don’t let your hands fall.
17The LORD your God is in your midst—a warrior bringing victory.
He will create calm with his love;
he will rejoice over you with singing.
18I will remove from you those worried about the appointed feasts.#3.18 Heb uncertain
They have been a burden for her, a reproach.
19Watch what I am about to do to all your oppressors at that time.
I will deliver the lame;
I will gather the outcast.
I will change their shame into praise and fame throughout the earth.
20At that time, I will bring all of you back,
at the time when I gather you.
I will give you fame and praise among all the neighboring peoples
when I restore your possessions and you can see them#3.20 Or before your eyes—says the LORD.
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