Zephaniah 3
3
The Wickedness of Jerusalem
1Ah, soiled, defiled,
oppressing city!
2It has listened to no voice;
it has accepted no correction.
It has not trusted in the Lord;
it has not drawn near to its God.
3The officials within it
are roaring lions;
its judges are evening wolves
that leave nothing until the morning.
4Its prophets are reckless,
faithless persons;
its priests have profaned what is sacred,
they have done violence to the law.
5The Lord within it is righteous;
he does no wrong.
Every morning he renders his judgment,
each dawn without fail;
but the unjust knows no shame.
6I have cut off nations;
their battlements are in ruins;
I have laid waste their streets
so that no one walks in them;
their cities have been made desolate,
without people, without inhabitants.
7I said, “Surely the city#3.7 Heb it will fear me,
it will accept correction;
it will not lose sight#3.7 Gk Syr: Heb its dwelling will not be cut off
of all that I have brought upon it.”
But they were the more eager
to make all their deeds corrupt.
Punishment and Conversion of the Nations
8Therefore wait for me, says the Lord,
for the day when I arise as a witness.
For my decision is to gather nations,
to assemble kingdoms,
to pour out upon them my indignation,
all the heat of my anger;
for in the fire of my passion
all the earth shall be consumed.
9At that time I will change the speech of the peoples
to a pure speech,
that all of them may call on the name of the Lord
and serve him with one accord.
10From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia#3.10 Or Nubia; Heb Cush
my suppliants, my scattered ones,
shall bring my offering.
11On that day you shall not be put to shame
because of all the deeds by which you have rebelled against me;
for then I will remove from your midst
your proudly exultant ones,
and you shall no longer be haughty
in my holy mountain.
12For I will leave in the midst of you
a people humble and lowly.
They shall seek refuge in the name of the Lord—
13the remnant of Israel;
they shall do no wrong
and utter no lies,
nor shall a deceitful tongue
be found in their mouths.
Then they will pasture and lie down,
and no one shall make them afraid.
A Song of Joy
14Sing aloud, O daughter Zion;
shout, O Israel!
Rejoice and exult with all your heart,
O daughter Jerusalem!
15The Lord has taken away the judgments against you,
he has turned away your enemies.
The king of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst;
you shall fear disaster no more.
16On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
Do not fear, O Zion;
do not let your hands grow weak.
17The Lord, your God, is in your midst,
a warrior who gives victory;
he will rejoice over you with gladness,
he will renew you#3.17 Gk Syr: Heb he will be silent in his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing
18as on a day of festival.#3.18 Gk Syr: Meaning of Heb uncertain
I will remove disaster from you,#3.18 Cn: Heb I will remove from you; they were
so that you will not bear reproach for it.
19I will deal with all your oppressors
at that time.
And I will save the lame
and gather the outcast,
and I will change their shame into praise
and renown in all the earth.
20At that time I will bring you home,
at the time when I gather you;
for I will make you renowned and praised
among all the peoples of the earth,
when I restore your fortunes
before your eyes, says the Lord.
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Zephaniah 3: NRSV
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New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989 Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
