Zephaniah 3
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1The filthy, stained city is as good as dead; the city filled with oppressors is finished! 1Woe to the city that is rebellious and defiled, the oppressive city!
2She is disobedient; she refuses correction. She does not trust the LORD; she does not seek the advice of her God. 2She has not obeyed; she has not accepted discipline. She has not trusted in Yahweh; she has not drawn near to her God.
3Her princes are as fierce as roaring lions; her rulers are as hungry as wolves in the desert, who completely devour their prey by morning. 3The princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are wolves of the night, which leave nothing for the morning.
4Her prophets are proud; they are deceitful men. Her priests defile what is holy; they break God's laws. 4Her prophets are reckless-- treacherous men. Her priests profane the sanctuary; they do violence to instruction.
5The just LORD resides within her; he commits no unjust acts. Every morning he reveals his justice. At dawn he appears without fail. Yet the unjust know no shame. 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.
6"I destroyed nations; their walled cities are in ruins. I turned their streets into ruins; no one passes through them. Their cities are desolate; no one lives there. 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.
7I thought, 'Certainly you will respect me! Now you will accept correction!' If she had done so, her home would not be destroyed by all the punishments I have threatened. But they eagerly sinned in everything they did. 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.
8Therefore you must wait patiently for me," says the LORD, "for the day when I attack and take plunder. I have decided to gather nations together and assemble kingdoms, so I can pour out my fury on them--all my raging anger. For the whole earth will be consumed by my fiery anger. 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.
9Know for sure that I will then enable the nations to give me acceptable praise. All of them will invoke the LORD's name when they pray, and will worship him in unison. 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.
10From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia, those who pray to me will bring me tribute. 10From beyond the rivers of Cush My supplicants, My dispersed people, will bring an offering to Me.
11In that day you will not be ashamed of all your rebelliousness against me, for then I will remove from your midst those who proudly boast, and you will never again be arrogant on my holy hill. 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.
12I will leave in your midst a humble and meek group of people, and they will find safety in the LORD's presence. 12I will leave a meek and humble people among you, and they will take refuge in the name of Yahweh.
13The Israelites who remain will not act deceitfully. They will not lie, and a deceitful tongue will not be found in their mouth. Indeed, they will graze peacefully like sheep and lie down; no one will terrify them." 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.
14Shout for joy, Daughter Zion! Shout out, Israel! Be happy and boast with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem! 14Sing for joy, Daughter Zion; shout loudly, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem!
15The LORD has removed the judgment against you; he has turned back your enemy. Israel's king, the LORD, is in your midst! You no longer need to fear disaster. 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.
16On that day they will say to Jerusalem, "Don't be afraid, Zion! Your hands must not be paralyzed from panic! 16On that day it will be said to Jerusalem:" Do not fear; Zion, do not let your hands grow weak.
17The LORD your God is in your midst; he is a warrior who can deliver. He takes great delight in you; he renews you by his love; he shouts for joy over you." 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."
18"As for those who grieve because they cannot attend the festivals--I took them away from you; they became tribute and were a source of shame to 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.
19Look, at that time I will deal with those who mistreated you. I will rescue the lame sheep and gather together the scattered sheep. I will take away their humiliation and make the whole earth admire and respect them. 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.
20At that time I will lead you--at the time I gather you together. Be sure of this! I will make all the nations of the earth respect and admire you when you see me restore you," says the LORD. 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.
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Zephaniah 2
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