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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Zephaniah 3: CEB
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2011 Common English Bible. All rights reserved.
Zephaniah 3
3
Jerusalem Will Be Punished
1How terrible for the wicked, stubborn city of Jerusalem,
which hurts its own people.
2It obeys no voice;
it can’t be taught to do right.
It doesn’t trust the Lord;
it doesn’t worship its God.
3Its officers are like roaring lions.
Its rulers are like hungry wolves that attack in the evening,
and in the morning nothing is left of those they attacked.
4Its prophets are proud;
they are people who cannot be trusted.
Its priests don’t respect holy things;
they break God’s teachings.
5But the Lord is good, and he is there in that city.
He does no wrong.
Every morning he governs the people fairly;
every day he can be trusted.
But evil people are not ashamed of what they do.
6“I have destroyed nations;
their towers were ruined.
I made their streets empty
so no one goes there anymore.
Their cities are ruined;
no one lives there at all.
7I said, ‘Surely now Jerusalem will respect me
and will accept my teaching.’
Then the place where they lived would not be destroyed,
and I would not have to punish them.
But they were still eager
to do evil in everything they did.
8Just wait,” says the Lord.
“Someday I will stand up as a witness.
I have decided that I will gather nations
and assemble kingdoms.
I will pour out my anger on them,
all my strong anger.
My anger will be like fire
that will burn up the whole world.
A New Day for God’s People
9“Then I will give the people of all nations pure speech
so that all of them will speak the name of the Lord
and worship me together.
10People will come from where the Nile River begins;
my scattered people will come with gifts for me.
11Then Jerusalem will not be ashamed
of the wrongs done against me,
because I will remove from this city
those who like to brag;
there will never be any more proud people
on my holy mountain in Jerusalem.
12But I will leave in the city
the humble and those who are not proud,
and they will trust in the Lord.
13Those who are left alive in Israel won’t do wrong or tell lies;
they won’t trick people with their words.
They will eat and lie down
with no one to make them afraid.”
A Happy Song
14Sing, Jerusalem.
Israel, shout for joy!
Jerusalem, be happy
and rejoice with all your heart.
15The Lord has stopped punishing you;
he has sent your enemies away.
The King of Israel, the Lord, is with you;
you will never again be afraid of being harmed.
16On that day Jerusalem will be told,
“Don’t be afraid, city of Jerusalem.
Don’t give up.
17The Lord your God is with you;
the mighty One will save you.
He will rejoice over you.
You will rest in his love;
he will sing and be joyful about you.”
18“I will take away the sadness planned for you,
which would have made you very ashamed.
19At that time I will punish
all those who harmed you.
I will save my people who cannot walk
and gather my people who have been thrown out.
I will give them praise and honor
in every place where they were shamed.
20At that time I will gather you;
at that time I will bring you back home.
I will give you honor and praise
from people everywhere
when I make things go well again for you,
as you will see with your own eyes,” says the Lord.
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The Holy Bible, New Century Version, Copyright © 2005 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.