(KJV) Zephaniah 3¹

<< Zephaniah 2

Haggai 1 >>

⥃Judgment on Jerusalem

[1] Woe to her that is filthy² and polluted, to the³ oppressing city! [2] She obeyed⁴ not the voice; she received⁵ not correction⁶; she trusted⁷ not in the Lord; she drew⁸ not near to her God. [3] Her princes⁹ within her [are] roaring lions; her judges [are] evening¹⁰ wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow. [4] Her prophets [are] light¹¹ [and] treacherous persons: her priests¹² have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law. [5] The just¹³ Lord [is] in¹⁴ the midst thereof; he will¹⁵ not do iniquity: every morning¹⁶ doth he bring¹⁷ his judgment to light, he faileth not; but¹⁸ the unjust knoweth no shame.

⥃Purification of the Nations

[6] I have cut¹⁹ off the nations: their towers²⁰ are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none passeth by: their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, that there is none inhabitant. [7] I said, Surely²¹ thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive instruction; so²² their dwelling should not be cut off, howsoever²³ I punished them: but they²⁴ rose early, [and] corrupted²⁵ all their doings.

[8] Therefore wait²⁶ ye upon me, saith the Lord, until the day that I rise²⁷ up to the prey: for my determination [is] to gather²⁸ the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, [even] all my fierce anger: for all²⁹ the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.

⥃A Faithful Remnant

[9] For then will³⁰ I turn to the people a pure language³¹, that³² they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent³³. [10] From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, [even] the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering.³⁴ [11] In that day shalt thou³⁵ not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice³⁶ in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy³⁷ mountain. [12] I will also leave³⁸ in the midst of thee an afflicted and³⁹ poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the Lord. [13] The remnant⁴⁰ of Israel shall not⁴¹ do iniquity, nor⁴² speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they⁴³ shall feed and⁴⁴ lie down, and none shall make [them] afraid.

⥃Israel’s Restoration

[14] Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout⁴⁵, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem⁴⁶. [15] The Lord hath taken⁴⁷ away thy judgments, he hath⁴⁸ cast out thine enemy: the king⁴⁹ of Israel, [even] the Lord, [is] in⁵⁰ the midst of thee: thou⁵¹ shalt not see evil any more. [16] In that day it shall be said⁵² to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: [and to] Zion, Let not thine hands be slack⁵³. [17] The Lord thy God in the⁵⁴ midst of thee [is] mighty⁵⁵; he will save, he will rejoice⁵⁶ over thee with joy; he will⁵⁷ rest⁵⁸ in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. [18] I will gather⁵⁹ [them that are] sorrowful⁶⁰ for the solemn assembly, [who] are of thee, [to whom] the reproach of it [was] a burden⁶¹. [19] Behold, at that time I will undo⁶² all that afflict thee: and I will⁶³ save⁶⁴ her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise⁶⁵ and fame in every land where they have been put to shame⁶⁶. [20] At that time will I bring you [again], even⁶⁷ in the time that I gather you: for⁶⁸ I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn⁶⁹ back your captivity before your eyes, saith the Lord.