Zephaniah 3

1Woe to her that is rebellious and polluted! to the oppressing city!

1How terrible it will be for the rebellious and filthy city of Jerusalem, a city that treats people cruelly!

2She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in Jehovah; she drew not near to her God.

2She did not listen to my voice; she refused to be corrected. She did not trust in the LORD; she did not draw near to her God.

3Her princes in the midst of her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they leave nothing till the morrow.

3Her leaders are like roaring lions; her judges are like hungry wolves at night that leave nothing for the morning.

4Her prophets are light and treacherous persons; her priests have profaned the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.

4Her prophets are arrogant and cannot be trusted; her priests have treated holy things like common ones and have broken the law.

5Jehovah in the midst of her is righteous; he will not do iniquity; every morning doth he bring his justice to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame.

5The LORD stays in that city and he is righteous; he does no wrong. Every morning he brings his justice to light without fail, but the wicked have no sense of shame.

6I have cut off nations; their battlements are desolate; I have made their streets waste, so that none passeth by; their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, so that there is no inhabitant.

6I have destroyed nations and ruined their fortresses. I have left their streets empty so that no one walks through them. Their cities are destroyed and left without a single person living in them.

7I said, Only fear thou me; receive correction; so her dwelling shall not be cut off, according to all that I have appointed concerning her: but they rose early and corrupted all their doings.

7I said, 'Surely you will fear me and accept my correction.' Then your home would not be destroyed as I had planned. But they were eager to be even more corrupt in everything they did.

8Therefore wait ye for me, saith Jehovah, until the day that I rise up to the prey; for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger; for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.

8Therefore, wait for me, says the LORD, until the day I stand up to bring judgment. I have decided to gather the nations and kingdoms so I can pour out my fury and fierce anger on them. The whole earth will be consumed by the fire of my jealousy.

9For then will I turn to the peoples of a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of Jehovah, to serve him with one consent.

9For then I will change the speech of all people to a pure language, so they may all call on the name of the LORD and serve him together as one.

10From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering.

10From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia, my worshipers—the people I have scattered—will bring me their offerings.

11In that day shalt thou not be put to shame for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me; for then I will take away out of the midst of thee thy proudly exulting ones, and thou shalt no more be haughty in my holy mountain.

11On that day you will no longer be ashamed of the many ways you rebelled against me. I will remove the proud and arrogant people from among you, and you will never again be haughty on my holy mountain.

12But I will leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall take refuge in the name of Jehovah.

12I will leave among you a humble and lowly people, and they will find safety in the name of the LORD.

13The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth; for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.

13The survivors of Israel will not do wrong or tell lies; they will not speak with deceitful tongues. They will eat and rest like sheep, and no one will make them afraid.

14Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.

14Sing out, people of Zion! Shout aloud, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, people of Jerusalem!

15Jehovah hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the King of Israel, even Jehovah, is in the midst of thee; thou shalt not fear evil any more.

15The LORD has taken away your punishment and cleared out your enemies. The King of Israel, the LORD himself, is with you; you will never fear disaster again.

16In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not; O Zion, let not thy hands be slack.

16On that day, the message to Jerusalem will be, 'Do not be afraid! People of Zion, do not let your hands hang down in weakness.'

17Jehovah thy God is in the midst of thee, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love; he will joy over thee with singing.

17The LORD your God is with you; he is a mighty savior. He will take great delight in you; he will quiet you with his love; he will sing over you with shouts of joy.

18I will gather them that sorrow for the solemn assembly, who were of thee; to whom the burden upon her was a reproach.

18I will gather those who mourn because they cannot attend the appointed festivals. Those burdens were a disgrace to you.

19Behold, at that time I will deal with all them that afflict thee; and I will save that which is lame, and gather that which was driven away; and I will make them a praise and a name, whose shame hath been in all the earth.

19Behold, at that time I will deal with everyone who oppressed you. I will save the weak, gather the outcasts, and give them praise and honor in every land where they were put to shame.

20At that time will I bring you in, and at that time will I gather you; for I will make you a name and a praise among all the peoples of the earth, when I bring back your captivity before your eyes, saith Jehovah.

20At that time I will bring you home; at that time I will gather you together. I will give you honor and praise among all the people of the earth when I restore your fortunes right before your eyes, says the LORD.