Tsephanyah (Zephaniah) 3
3
1Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled, the oppressing city!
2She did not obey the voice, she did not accept instruction, she did not trust in יהוה, she did not draw near to her Elohim.
3Her rulers in her midst are roaring lions, her judges are evening wolves, they shall leave no bone until morning.
4Her prophets are reckless, treacherous men. Her priests have profaned the set-apart place, they have done violence to the Torah.#See Ezek. 22:26; Luke 16:16
5יהוה is righteous in her midst, He does no unrighteousness. Morning by morning He brings His right-ruling to light, it has not been lacking, yet the unrighteous one knows no shame.
6“I have cut off nations, their corner towers are in ruins. I have made their streets deserted, with no one passing by. Their cities are destroyed, without man, without inhabitant.
7“I have said, ‘Only fear Me, accept instruction.’ And her dwelling would not be cut off, all that I have appointed for her. But they rose up early, they corrupted all their deeds.
8“Therefore wait for Me,” declares יהוה, “until the day I rise up for plunder. For My judgment is to gather nations, to assemble reigns, to pour out on them My rage, all My burning wrath. For by the fire of My jealousy all the earth shall be consumed.
9“For then I shall turn unto the peoples a clean lip,#Or language. so that they all call on the Name of יהוה, to serve Him with one shoulder.
10“From beyond the rivers of Kush my worshippers, the daughter of My dispersed ones, shall bring My offering.
11“In that day you shall not be put to shame for any of your deeds in which you have transgressed against Me, for then I shall remove from your midst your proud exulting ones, and you shall no more be haughty in My set-apart mountain.
12“But I shall leave in your midst an oppressed and poor people, and they shall trust in the Name of יהוה.
13“The remnant of Yisra’ĕl shall do no unrighteousness and speak no falsehood,#See Rev. 14:5 nor is a tongue of deceit found in their mouth. For they shall feed their flocks and lie down, with none to frighten them.”
14Shout for joy, O daughter of Tsiyon! Shout, O Yisra’ĕl! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Yerushalayim!
15יהוה has turned aside your judgments. He has faced your enemy. The Sovereign of Yisra’ĕl, יהוה, is in your midst.#See Zeph. 3:17 No longer need you fear evil.
16In that day it shall be said to Yerushalayim, “Do not fear, Tsiyon, do not let your hands be weak.
17“יהוה your Elohim in your midst, is mighty to save. He rejoices over you with joy, He is silent in His love, He rejoices over you with singing.”
18“I shall gather those who grieve about the appointed time, who are among you, to whom its reproach is a burden.
19“See, I am dealing with all those afflicting you at that time. And I shall save the lame, and gather those who were cast out. And I shall give them for a praise and for a name in all the earth where they were put to shame.
20“At that time I shall bring you in, even at the time I gather you, for I shall give you for a name, and for a praise, among all the peoples of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes,” said יהוה.
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Tsephanyah (Zephaniah) 3: TS2009
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Zephaniah 3
3
Jerusalem’s Rebellion and Redemption
1What sorrow awaits rebellious, polluted Jerusalem,
the city of violence and crime!
2No one can tell it anything;
it refuses all correction.
It does not trust in the Lord
or draw near to its God.
3Its leaders are like roaring lions
hunting for their victims.
Its judges are like ravenous wolves at evening time,
who by dawn have left no trace of their prey.
4Its prophets are arrogant liars seeking their own gain.
Its priests defile the Temple by disobeying God’s instructions.
5But the Lord is still there in the city,
and he does no wrong.
Day by day he hands down justice,
and he does not fail.
But the wicked know no shame.
6“I have wiped out many nations,
devastating their fortress walls and towers.
Their streets are now deserted;
their cities lie in silent ruin.
There are no survivors—
none at all.
7I thought, ‘Surely they will have reverence for me now!
Surely they will listen to my warnings.
Then I won’t need to strike again,
destroying their homes.’
But no, they get up early
to continue their evil deeds.
8Therefore, be patient,” says the Lord.
“Soon I will stand and accuse these evil nations.
For I have decided to gather the kingdoms of the earth
and pour out my fiercest anger and fury on them.
All the earth will be devoured
by the fire of my jealousy.
9“Then I will purify the speech of all people,
so that everyone can worship the Lord together.
10My scattered people who live beyond the rivers of Ethiopia#3:10 Hebrew Cush.
will come to present their offerings.
11On that day you will no longer need to be ashamed,
for you will no longer be rebels against me.
I will remove all proud and arrogant people from among you.
There will be no more haughtiness on my holy mountain.
12Those who are left will be the lowly and humble,
for it is they who trust in the name of the Lord.
13The remnant of Israel will do no wrong;
they will never tell lies or deceive one another.
They will eat and sleep in safety,
and no one will make them afraid.”
14Sing, O daughter of Zion;
shout aloud, O Israel!
Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,
O daughter of Jerusalem!
15For the Lord will remove his hand of judgment
and will disperse the armies of your enemy.
And the Lord himself, the King of Israel,
will live among you!
At last your troubles will be over,
and you will never again fear disaster.
16On that day the announcement to Jerusalem will be,
“Cheer up, Zion! Don’t be afraid!
17For the Lord your God is living among you.
He is a mighty savior.
He will take delight in you with gladness.
With his love, he will calm all your fears.#3:17 Or He will be silent in his love. Greek and Syriac versions read He will renew you with his love.
He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”
18“I will gather you who mourn for the appointed festivals;
you will be disgraced no more.#3:18 The meaning of the Hebrew for this verse is uncertain.
19And I will deal severely with all who have oppressed you.
I will save the weak and helpless ones;
I will bring together
those who were chased away.
I will give glory and fame to my former exiles,
wherever they have been mocked and shamed.
20On that day I will gather you together
and bring you home again.
I will give you a good name, a name of distinction,
among all the nations of the earth,
as I restore your fortunes before their very eyes.
I, the Lord, have spoken!”
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