1Woe to the city of oppressors, rebellious and defiled!2She obeys no-one, she accepts no correction. She does not trust in the Lord, she does not draw near to her God.3Her officials within her are roaring lions; her rulers are evening wolves, who leave nothing for the morning.4Her prophets are unprincipled; they are treacherous people. Her priests profane the sanctuary and do violence to the law.5The Lord within her is righteous; he does no wrong. Morning by morning he dispenses his justice, and every new day he does not fail, yet the unrighteous know no shame.
Jerusalem remains unrepentant
6‘I have destroyed nations; their strongholds are demolished. I have left their streets deserted, with no-one passing through. Their cities are laid waste; they are deserted and empty.7Of Jerusalem I thought, “Surely you will fear me and accept correction!” Then her place of refuge[1] would not be destroyed, nor all my punishments come upon[2] her. But they were still eager to act corruptly in all they did.8Therefore wait for me,’ declares the Lord, ‘for the day I will stand up to testify.[3] I have decided to assemble the nations, to gather the kingdoms and to pour out my wrath on them – all my fierce anger. The whole world will be consumed by the fire of my jealous anger.
Restoration of Israel’s remnant
9‘Then I will purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord and serve him shoulder to shoulder.10From beyond the rivers of Cush[4] my worshippers, my scattered people, will bring me offerings.11On that day you, Jerusalem, will not be put to shame for all the wrongs you have done to me, because I will remove from you your arrogant boasters. Never again will you be haughty on my holy hill.12But I will leave within you the meek and humble. The remnant of Israel will trust in the name of the Lord.13They will do no wrong; they will tell no lies. A deceitful tongue will not be found in their mouths. They will eat and lie down and no-one will make them afraid.’14Sing, Daughter Zion; shout aloud, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem!15The Lord has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy. The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm.16On that day they will say to Jerusalem, ‘Do not fear, Zion; do not let your hands hang limp.17The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.’18‘I will remove from you all who mourn over the loss of your appointed festivals, which is a burden and reproach for you.19At that time I will deal with all who oppressed you. I will rescue the lame; I will gather the exiles. I will give them praise and honour in every land where they have suffered shame.20At that time I will gather you; at that time I will bring you home. I will give you honour and praise among all the peoples of the earth when I restore your fortunes[5] before your very eyes,’ says the Lord.
Zephaniah 3
English Standard Version
Judgment on Jerusalem and the Nations
1Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled, the oppressing city! (Jer 6:6)2She listens to no voice; she accepts no correction. She does not trust in the Lord; she does not draw near to her God. (Jer 5:3; Zep 3:12)3Her officials within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves that leave nothing till the morning. (Eze 22:27; Mic 3:9; Hab 1:8)4Her prophets are fickle, treacherous men; her priests profane what is holy; they do violence to the law. (Jer 23:11; Eze 22:26; Ho 9:7)5The Lord within her is righteous; he does no injustice; every morning he shows forth his justice; each dawn he does not fail; but the unjust knows no shame. (Jer 12:1; Zep 2:1)6“I 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 a man, without an inhabitant. (Zep 2:4; Zec 7:14; Zec 9:8)7I said, ‘Surely you will fear me; you will accept correction. Then your[1] dwelling would not be cut off according to all that I have appointed against you.’[2] But all the more they were eager to make all their deeds corrupt. (Jer 36:3; Mic 7:3; Zep 3:2)8“Therefore wait for me,” declares the Lord, “for the day when I rise up to seize the prey. For my decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out upon them my indignation, all my burning anger; for in the fire of my jealousy all the earth shall be consumed. (Isa 8:17; Joe 3:2; Hab 2:3; Zep 1:18)
The Conversion of the Nations
9“For at that time I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech, that all of them may call upon the name of the Lord and serve him with one accord. (Isa 19:18)10From beyond the rivers of Cush my worshipers, the daughter of my dispersed ones, shall bring my offering. (Ps 68:31; Isa 11:11; Isa 60:4; Zep 2:12)11“On that day you shall not be put to shame because of 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. (Isa 2:11; Isa 54:4; Jer 7:4; Mal 4:1; Mt 3:9)12But I will leave in your midst a people humble and lowly. They shall seek refuge in the name of the Lord, (Isa 14:32; Zep 3:2; Mt 5:3)13those who are left in Israel; they shall do no injustice and speak no lies, nor shall there be found in their mouth a deceitful tongue. For they shall graze and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.” (Isa 60:21; Mic 5:4; Zep 2:7; Re 14:5)
Israel’s Joy and Restoration
14Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! (Isa 12:6; Isa 54:1; Zec 2:10; Zec 9:9)15The Lord has taken away the judgments against you; he has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil. (Ps 46:5; Zec 2:10; Mt 27:42; Joh 1:49; Re 21:3)16On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak. (Isa 35:3; Zep 3:11; Heb 12:12)17The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. (Isa 62:5; Isa 63:1; Jer 32:41; Zep 3:15)18I will gather those of you who mourn for the festival, so that you will no longer suffer reproach.[3] (La 1:4; La 2:6)19Behold, at that time I will deal with all your oppressors. And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth. (Isa 60:14; Isa 61:7; Jer 13:11; Jer 33:9; Mic 4:6)20At that time I will bring you in, at the time when I gather you together; 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. (Isa 11:12; Jer 32:37; Eze 11:17; Zep 2:7)