Zephaniah 3
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Holman Christian Standard BibleInternational Standard Version
1Woe to the city that is rebellious and defiled, the oppressive city! 1Woe to this filthy, polluted, and oppressive city!
2She has not obeyed; she has not accepted discipline. She has not trusted in Yahweh; she has not drawn near to her God. 2It won't obey anyone. It won't accept discipline. It does not trust in the LORD. It does not approach God.
3The princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are wolves of the night, which leave nothing for the morning. 3Its national officials are roaring lions; its judges are like wolves of the night that don't leave the bones for the morning.
4Her prophets are reckless-- treacherous men. Her priests profane the sanctuary; they do violence to instruction. 4Its prophets are arrogant and treacherous. Its priests have contaminated the sanctuary. They give perverse interpretations of the Law.
5The righteous LORD is in her; He does no wrong. He applies His justice morning by morning; He does not fail at dawn, yet the one who does wrong knows no shame. 5The righteous LORD who lives within her will do no wrong; he will bring justice to light morning by morning. He never fails, but the unjust are shameless.
6I have cut off nations; their corner towers are destroyed. I have laid waste their streets, with no one to pass through. Their cities lie devastated, without a person, without an inhabitant. 6"I have destroyed nations— their fortifications are deserted. I have turned their main thoroughfares into wastelands where no one will travel. Their cities are desolate; as a result, not one man remains— no, not even a single resident.
7I thought: You will certainly fear Me and accept correction. Then her dwelling place would not be cut off based on all that I had allocated to her. However, they became more corrupt in all their actions. 7I have said, 'If only you would fear me, if only you would take my instructions to heart.' Then their houses would not have been torn down. I have chastened them, but they were eager to corrupt everything they were doing."
8Therefore, wait for Me-- this is the LORD's declaration-- until the day I rise up for plunder. For My decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, in order to pour out My indignation on them, all My burning anger; for the whole earth will be consumed by the fire of My jealousy. 8"Just you wait!" declares the LORD. "The day will come when I stand up as a prosecutor, for I am determined to assemble the nations and to gather the kingdoms, in order to pour out my indignation upon them— all of my fierce anger. All the earth will be consumed by the fire of my jealousy.
9For I will then restore pure speech to the peoples so that all of them may call on the name of Yahweh and serve Him with a single purpose. 9Indeed, then I will return my people to a pure language so that they all may call upon the name of the LORD, serving him with a united will.
10From beyond the rivers of Cush My supplicants, My dispersed people, will bring an offering to Me. 10"From beyond the rivers of Sudan my worshipers — including my dispersed people— will present offerings to me.
11On that day you will not be put to shame because of everything you have done in rebelling against Me. For then I will remove your proud, arrogant people from among you, and you will never again be haughty on My holy mountain. 11When this happens, you will not be ashamed of your actions by which you sinned against me, because I will remove from among you those who revel in pride. Arrogance will have no place in my holy mountain.
12I will leave a meek and humble people among you, and they will take refuge in the name of Yahweh. 12I will keep a humble and gentle people among you, and they will trust in the name of the LORD.
13The remnant of Israel will no longer do wrong or tell lies; a deceitful tongue will not be found in their mouths. But they will pasture and lie down, with nothing to make them afraid. 13The survivors of Israel will not practice lawlessness nor tell lies, nor will a deceitful message be found in their mouths, because they will eat and rest, with no one to cause fear."
14Sing for joy, Daughter Zion; shout loudly, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem! 14"Sing aloud, daughter of Zion! Shout out, Israel! Rejoice with all of your heart, daughter of Jerusalem!
15The LORD has removed your punishment; He has turned back your enemy. The King of Israel, Yahweh, is among you; you need no longer fear harm. 15The LORD has acquitted you; turning back your adversaries. Israel's king, the LORD, is among you; you will not fear disaster anymore.
16On that day it will be said to Jerusalem:" Do not fear; Zion, do not let your hands grow weak. 16"When all of this happens, it will be told Jerusalem, 'Don't be afraid!" and to Zion, 'Don't lose courage!"
17Yahweh your God is among you, a warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will bring you quietness with His love. He will delight in you with shouts of joy." 17The LORD your God among you is powerful— he will save and he will take joyful delight in you. In his love he will renew you with his love; he will celebrate with singing because of you.
18I will gather those who have been driven from the appointed festivals; they will be a tribute from you and a reproach on her. 18I will gather the afflicted from the solemn assembly; those who were with you, who were bearing a burden of disgrace.
19Yes, at that time I will deal with all who afflict you. I will save the lame and gather the scattered; I will make those who were disgraced throughout the earth receive praise and fame. 19"Watch how I deal with everyone who oppresses you! At that time I will rescue the one who is lame, and I will draw to me the one who has been driven away. I will honor them with praise and with a good reputation in every land where they have been put to shame.
20At that time I will bring you back, yes, at the time I will gather you. I will give you fame and praise among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes. Yahweh has spoken. 20At that time I will gather you; at that time I will bring you home. Indeed, I will give you a good reputation, making you praiseworthy among all of the people of the world, when I restore your prosperity before your eyes," says the LORD.
Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
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Zephaniah 2
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