Zephaniah 3

¹ Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled,
the oppressing city!

² She listens to no voice;
she accepts no correction.
She does not trust in the LORD;
she does not draw near to her God.

³ Her officials within her are roaring lions;
her judges are evening wolves
that leave nothing till morning.

⁴ Her prophets are reckless, treacherous men;
her priests profane what is holy;
they do violence to the law.

⁵ The 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.

⁶ "I have cut off nations;
their corner towers are in ruins.
I have laid waste their streets
so that no one walks in them.
Their cities have been destroyed,
without a man, without an inhabitant.

⁷ I said, 'Surely you will fear me;
you will accept correction.'
Then her dwelling would not be cut off
according to all I appointed against her.
But they were eager
to make all their deeds corrupt."

⁸ "Therefore wait for me," declares the LORD,
"for the day when I rise up to seize 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 will be consumed.

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.

¹⁰ From beyond the rivers of Cush
my worshipers, the daughter of my dispersed ones,
will bring my offering.

¹¹ On that day you will not be put to shame
because of all the deeds by which you have rebelled against me;
for then I will remove from your midst
your proudly exultant ones,
and you will never again be haughty
on my holy mountain.

¹² But I will leave in your midst
a people humble and lowly,
and they will take refuge in the name of the LORD.

¹³ The remnant of Israel will not do injustice
or speak lies,
nor will a deceitful tongue
be found in their mouths.
For they will graze and lie down,
and no one will make them afraid.

¹⁴ Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion!
Shout, O Israel!
Rejoice and exult with all your heart,
O daughter of Jerusalem!

¹⁵ The 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 will never again fear evil.

¹⁶ On that day it will be said to Jerusalem:
"Do not fear, O Zion;
do not let your hands grow weak.

¹⁷ The 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.

¹⁸ I will gather those of you who grieve
over the appointed feasts —
they are a burden to you,
a reproach upon you.

¹⁹ Behold, at that time I will deal
with all your oppressors.
I will save the lame
and gather the outcast,
and I will change their shame into praise
and renown in all the earth.

²⁰ At that time I will bring you in;
at that time I will gather you.
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.