3 4 Against the governors of Jerusalem. 8 Of the calling of all the Gentiles. 13 A comfort to the residue of Israel.
1 Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the robbing [a]city.
2 She heard not the voice: she received not correction: she trusted not in the Lord: she drew not near to her God.
3 Her princes within her are as roaring (A)lions: her judges are as (B)wolves in the evening, which [b]leave not the bones till the morrow.
4 Her prophets are light, and wicked persons: her priests have polluted the Sanctuary: they have wrested the Law.
5 The [c]just Lord is in the midst thereof: he will do none iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not: but the wicked will not learn to be ashamed.
6 I have [d]cut off the nations: their towers are desolate: I have made their streets waste, that none shall pass by, their cities are destroyed without man, and without inhabitant.
7 I said, surely thou wilt fear me: thou wilt receive instruction: so their dwelling should not be destroyed howsoever I visited them, but [e]they rose early, and corrupted all their works.
8 Therefore [f]wait ye upon me, saith the Lord, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for I am determined to gather the nations, and that I will assemble the kingdoms to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce wrath: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.
9 Surely [g]then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord to serve him [h]with one consent.
10 From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia, the [i]daughter of my dispersed, praying unto me, shall bring me an offering.
11 In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for [j]all thy works, wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then will I take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice of thy pride, and thou shalt no more be proud of mine holy mountain.
12 Then will I leave in the midst of thee an humble and poor people: and they shall trust in the Name of the Lord.
13 The remnant of Israel shall do none iniquity, nor speak lies: neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall be fed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.
14 Rejoice, O daughter Zion: be ye joyful, O Israel: be glad and rejoice with all thine heart, O daughter Jerusalem.
15 The Lord hath taken away thy [k]judgments: he hath cast out thine [l]enemy: the king of Israel, even the Lord is in the midst of [m]thee: thou shalt see no more evil.
16 In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not, O Zion, let not thine hands be faint.
17 The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty: he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy: he will quiet himself in [n]his love: he will rejoice over thee with joy.
18 After a certain time will I gather the afflicted that were of thee, and them that bare the reproach for [o]it.
19 Behold, at that time I will bruise all that afflict thee, and I will [p]save her that halteth, and gather her that was cast out, and I will get them praise and fame in all the [q]lands of their shame.
20 At that time will I bring you again, and then will I gather you: for I will give you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the Lord.
Footnotes
- Zephaniah 3:1 That is, Jerusalem.
- Zephaniah 3:3 They are so greedy that they eat up bones and all.
- Zephaniah 3:5 The wicked thus boasted that God was ever among them, but the Prophet answereth that that cannot excuse their wickedness: for God will not bear with their sins: yet that he did patiently abide and sent his Prophets continually to call them to repentance, but he profited nothing.
- Zephaniah 3:6 By the destruction of other nations he showeth that the Jews should have learned to fear God.
- Zephaniah 3:7 They were most earnest and ready to do wickedly.
- Zephaniah 3:8 Seeing ye will not repent, you shall look for my vengeance as well as other nations.
- Zephaniah 3:9 Lest any should think then that God’s glory should have perished when Judah was destroyed, he showeth that he will publish his grace through all the world.
- Zephaniah 3:9 Hebrew, with one shoulder, as Hos. 6:9.
- Zephaniah 3:10 That is, the Jews shall come as well as the Gentiles: which is to be understood under the time of the Gospel.
- Zephaniah 3:11 For they shall have full remission of their sins, and the hypocrites which boasted of the Temple, which was also thy pride in times past, shall be taken from thee.
- Zephaniah 3:15 That is, the punishment for thy sin.
- Zephaniah 3:15 As the Assyrians, Chaldeans, Egyptians and other nations.
- Zephaniah 3:15 To defend thee as by thy sins thou hast put him away, and left thyself naked, as Exod. 32:25.
- Zephaniah 3:17 Signifying, that God delighteth to show his love and great affection toward his Church.
- Zephaniah 3:18 That is, them that were had in hatred and reviled for the Church, and because of their religion.
- Zephaniah 3:19 I will deliver the Church, which now is afflicted, as Mic. 4:6.
- Zephaniah 3:19 As among the Assyrians and Chaldeans which did mock them and put them to shame.