| New International Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1The word of the LORD that came to Zephaniah son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, during the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah: | 1This is the word of the LORD that came to Zephaniah son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah: |
| 2"I will sweep away everything from the face of the earth," "When I destroy all mankind on the face of the earth," declares the LORD. | 2“I will completely sweep away everything from the face of the earth,” declares the LORD. |
| 3"I will sweep away both man and beast; I will sweep away the birds in the sky and the fish in the sea-- and the idols that cause the wicked to stumble." "When I destroy all mankind on the face of the earth," declares the LORD, | 3“I will sweep away man and beast; I will sweep away the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, and the idols with their wicked worshipers. I will cut off mankind from the face of the earth,” declares the LORD. |
| 4"I will stretch out my hand against Judah and against all who live in Jerusalem. I will destroy every remnant of Baal worship in this place, the very names of the idolatrous priests-- | 4“I will stretch out My hand against Judah and against all who dwell in Jerusalem. I will cut off from this place every remnant of Baal, the names of the idolatrous and pagan priests— |
| 5those who bow down on the roofs to worship the starry host, those who bow down and swear by the LORD and who also swear by Molek, | 5those who bow on the rooftops to worship the host of heaven, those who bow down and swear by the LORD but also swear by Milcom, |
| 6those who turn back from following the LORD and neither seek the LORD nor inquire of him." | 6and those who turn back from following the LORD, neither seeking the LORD nor inquiring of Him.” |
| 7Be silent before the Sovereign LORD, for the day of the LORD is near. The LORD has prepared a sacrifice; he has consecrated those he has invited. | 7Be silent in the presence of the Lord GOD, for the Day of the LORD is near. Indeed, the LORD has prepared a sacrifice; He has consecrated His guests. |
| 8"On the day of the LORD's sacrifice I will punish the officials and the king's sons and all those clad in foreign clothes. | 8“On the Day of the LORD’s sacrifice I will punish the princes, the sons of the king, and all who are dressed in foreign apparel. |
| 9On that day I will punish all who avoid stepping on the threshold, who fill the temple of their gods with violence and deceit. | 9On that day I will punish all who leap over the threshold, who fill the house of their master with violence and deceit. |
| 10"On that day," declares the LORD, "a cry will go up from the Fish Gate, wailing from the New Quarter, and a loud crash from the hills. | 10On that day,” declares the LORD, “a cry will go up from the Fish Gate, a wail from the Second District, and a loud crashing from the hills. |
| 11Wail, you who live in the market district; all your merchants will be wiped out, all who trade with silver will be destroyed. | 11Wail, O dwellers of the Hollow, for all your merchants will be silenced; all who weigh out silver will be cut off. |
| 12At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish those who are complacent, who are like wine left on its dregs, who think, 'The LORD will do nothing, either good or bad.' | 12And at that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish the men settled in complacency, who say to themselves, ‘The LORD will do nothing, either good or bad.’ |
| 13Their wealth will be plundered, their houses demolished. Though they build houses, they will not live in them; though they plant vineyards, they will not drink the wine." | 13Their wealth will be plundered and their houses laid waste. They will build houses but not inhabit them, and plant vineyards but never drink their wine. |
| 14The great day of the LORD is near-- near and coming quickly. The cry on the day of the LORD is bitter; the Mighty Warrior shouts his battle cry. | 14The great Day of the LORD is near—near and coming quickly. Listen, the Day of the LORD! Then the cry of the mighty will be bitter. |
| 15That day will be a day of wrath-- a day of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness-- | 15That day will be a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of destruction and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness, |
| 16a day of trumpet and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the corner towers. | 16a day of horn blast and battle cry against the fortified cities, and against the high corner towers. |
| 17"I will bring such distress on all people that they will grope about like those who are blind, because they have sinned against the LORD. Their blood will be poured out like dust and their entrails like dung. | 17I will bring such distress on mankind that they will walk like the blind, because they have sinned against the LORD. Their blood will be poured out like dust and their flesh like dung. |
| 18Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the LORD's wrath." In the fire of his jealousy the whole earth will be consumed, for he will make a sudden end of all who live on the earth. | 18Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to deliver them on the Day of the LORD’s wrath. The whole earth will be consumed by the fire of His jealousy.” For indeed, He will make a sudden end of all who dwell on the earth. |
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