Woe to Oppressive Jerusalem
3 Woe to the city that is rebellious[a](A) and defiled,(B)
the oppressive city!
2 She has not obeyed;(C)
she has not accepted discipline.(D)
She has not trusted(E) in Yahweh;
she has not drawn near to her God.
3 The[b] princes within her are roaring lions;(F)
her judges are wolves of the night,(G)
which leave nothing for[c] the morning.
4 Her prophets are reckless(H)—
treacherous men.
Her priests profane the sanctuary;
they do violence to instruction.(I)
5 The righteous Lord is in her;(J)
He does no wrong.(K)
He applies His justice morning by morning;
He does not fail at dawn,
yet the one who does wrong knows no shame.(L)
6 I have cut off nations;
their corner towers(M) are destroyed.
I have laid waste their streets,
with no one to pass through.
Their cities lie devastated,
without a person, without an inhabitant.(N)
7 I thought: You will certainly fear Me
and accept correction.
Then her dwelling place[d]
would not be cut off
based on all that I had allocated to her.
However, they became more corrupt
in all their actions.
8 Therefore, wait for Me(O)—
this is the Lord’s declaration—
until the day I rise up for plunder.[e]
For My decision is to gather nations,
to assemble kingdoms,
in order to pour out My indignation(P) on them,
all My burning anger;
for the whole earth will be consumed
by the fire of My jealousy.(Q)
Final Restoration Promised
9 For I will then restore
pure(R) speech to the peoples
so that all of them may call
on the name of Yahweh
and serve Him with a single purpose.[f]
10 From beyond the rivers of Cush(S)
My supplicants, My dispersed people,
will bring an offering to Me.
11 On that day you[g] will not be put to shame(T)
because of everything you have done
in rebelling(U) against Me.
For then I will remove
your proud,(V) arrogant people from among you,
and you will never again be haughty
on My holy mountain.(W)
12 I will leave
a meek and humble people(X) among you,
and they will take refuge in the name of Yahweh.
13 The remnant(Y) 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.(Z)
14 Sing for joy, Daughter Zion;
shout loudly, Israel!
Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,
Daughter Jerusalem!
15 The 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.
16 On that day it will be said to Jerusalem:
“Do not fear;
Zion, do not let your hands grow weak.(AA)
17 Yahweh your God is among you,
a warrior(AB) who saves.
He will rejoice over you(AC) with gladness.
He will bring you quietness[h] with His love.
He will delight in you with shouts of joy.”(AD)
18 I will gather those who have been driven(AE)
from the appointed festivals;
they will be a tribute from you[i]
and a reproach on her.[j]
19 Yes, at that time
I will deal with all who afflict you.
I will save the lame(AF) and gather the scattered;(AG)
I will make those who were disgraced
throughout the earth
receive praise and fame.
20 At that time I will bring you[k] 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(AH) before your eyes.
Yahweh has spoken.
Footnotes
- Zephaniah 3:1 Or filthy
- Zephaniah 3:3 Lit Her
- Zephaniah 3:3 Or that had nothing to gnaw in
- Zephaniah 3:7 LXX, Syr read her eyes
- Zephaniah 3:8 LXX, Syr read for a witness; Vg reads up forever
- Zephaniah 3:9 Lit with one shoulder
- Zephaniah 3:11 = Israel
- Zephaniah 3:17 LXX, Syr read He will renew you
- Zephaniah 3:18 = Jerusalem
- Zephaniah 3:18 Hb obscure
- Zephaniah 3:20 = people of Israel
Cross references
- 3:1 : Ex 23:21; Dt 9:24; Ps 106:43
- 3:1 : Is 59:3
- 3:2 : 1Sm 15:22
- 3:2 : Jb 5:17
- 3:2 : Pr 3:5
- 3:3 : Ezk 22:25
- 3:3 : Hab 1:8; Mt 7:15; Ac 20:29
- 3:4 : Jdg 9:4
- 3:4 : Ezk 22:26
- 3:5 : Ps 129:4
- 3:5 : Ps 92:15
- 3:5 : Jr 8:12
- 3:6 : Zph 1:16
- 3:6 : Jr 44:2; Zph 2:5
- 3:8 : Jb 3:21; Ps 33:20; Is 8:17; 30:18; 64:4
- 3:8 : Ps 69:24; Ezk 21:31; 22:31; Nah 1:6
- 3:8 : Dt 29:20; Ps 79:5; Zch 1:14; 8:2
- 3:9 : Dn 12:10
- 3:10 : Is 18:1-3
- 3:11 : Gn 2:25; 2Sm 19:5; Ps 25:3
- 3:11 : Is 1:2
- 3:11 : Jr 48:29
- 3:11 : Is 11:9
- 3:12 : Is 66:2
- 3:13 : Gn 45:7; 2Kg 19:31; Jr 23:3
- 3:13 : Gn 42:28; Jr 50:19; Ezk 34:14; Mc 4:4; 7:14
- 3:16 : Jr 6:24; 50:43
- 3:17 : Jos 1:14; Jb 16:14; Ps 78:65
- 3:17 : Dt 28:63; 30:9
- 3:17 : Ps 30:5
- 3:18 : Lm 1:4-5; 3:33
- 3:19 : Ex 14:30
- 3:19 : Mc 4:6
- 3:20 : Jb 42:10; Jr 29:14; Ezk 39:25; Hs 6:11; Jl 3:1