Zephaniah 3
3
The Future of Jerusalem
1Jerusalem, your people fought against God. They hurt other people, and you have been stained with sin. 2They didn’t listen to me or accept my teachings. Jerusalem didn’t trust the Lord. Jerusalem didn’t go to her God. 3Jerusalem’s leaders are like roaring lions. Her judges are like hungry wolves that come in the evening to attack the sheep—and in the morning nothing is left. 4Her prophets are always making secret plans to get more and more. Her priests have treated holy things as if they were not holy. They have done bad things to God’s teachings. 5But the Lord is still in that city, and he continues to be good. He does not do anything wrong. He continues to help his people. Morning after morning he makes good decisions for them. Not a day passes without his justice. He never gives a decision that is crooked or is something to be ashamed of.
6The Lord says, “I have destroyed whole nations and their defense towers. I destroyed their streets and now no one goes there anymore. Their cities are empty—no one lives there anymore. 7I tell you this so that you will learn a lesson. I want you to fear and respect me. If you do this, your home will not be destroyed, and I will not have to punish you the way I planned.” But those evil people only wanted to do more of the same evil things they had already done!
8The Lord said, “So just wait! Wait for me to stand and judge you. I have the right to bring people from many nations and use them to punish you. I will use them to show my anger against you. I will use them to show how upset I am—and the whole country will be destroyed. 9Then I will change people from other nations so that they can speak the language clearly and call out the name of the Lord. They will all worship me together, shoulder to shoulder, as one people. 10People will come all the way from the other side of the river in Ethiopia. My scattered people will come to me. My worshipers will come and bring their gifts to me.
11“Then, Jerusalem, you will no longer be ashamed of the wrong things your people do against me. That is because I will remove all the bad people from Jerusalem. I will take away all the proud people. There will not be any of them on my holy mountain.#3:11 holy mountain Mount Zion, one of the mountains Jerusalem was built on. 12I will let only meek and humble people stay in my city, and they will trust the Lord’s name. 13The survivors of Israel will not do bad things or tell lies. They will not try to trick people with lies. They will be like sheep that eat and lie down in peace—and no one will bother them.”
A Happy Song
14Jerusalem, sing and be happy!
Israel, shout for joy!
Jerusalem, be happy and have fun!
15The Lord stopped your punishment.
He destroyed your enemies’ strong towers.
King of Israel, the Lord is with you.
You don’t need to worry about anything bad happening.
16At that time Jerusalem will be told,
“Be strong, don’t be afraid!
17The Lord your God is with you.
He is like a powerful soldier.
He will save you.
He will show how much he loves you
and how happy he is with you.
He will laugh and be happy about you,
18like people at a party.
I will take away your shame.
I will make them stop hurting you.#3:18 The Hebrew text here is hard to understand.
19At that time I will punish those who hurt you.
I will save my hurt people
and bring back those who were forced to leave.
I will give them praise and honor everywhere,
even in places where they suffered shame.
20At that time I will lead you back home.
I will bring your people back together.
I will cause people everywhere to honor and praise you.
You will see me bring back all the blessings you once had.”
This is what the Lord said.
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Zephaniah 3: ERV
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© 1987, 2004 Bible League International
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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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.