- Zephaniah
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3
Judgment on Jerusalem
1 Woe to the city of oppressors,
rebellious and defiled!
2 She heeded no voice;
she accepted no correction.
She does not trust in the LORD;
she has not drawn near to her God.
3 Her princes are roaring lions;
her judges are evening wolves,
leaving nothing for the morning.
4 Her prophets are reckless,
faithless men.
Her priests profane the sanctuary;
they do violence to the law.
5 The LORD within her is righteous;
He does no wrong.
He applies His justice morning by morning;
He does not fail at dawn,
yet the unjust know no shame.
Purification of the Nations
6 “I have cut off the nations;
their corner towers are destroyed.
I have made their streets deserted
with no one to pass through.
Their cities are laid waste,
with no man, no inhabitant.
7 I said, ‘Surely you will fear Me
and accept correction.’
Then her dwelling place would not be cut off
despite all for which I punished her.
But they rose early
to corrupt all their deeds.
8 Therefore wait for Me,”
declares the LORD,
“until the day
I rise to testify.*LXX and Syriac; Hebrew rise up to plunder
For My decision is to gather nations,
to assemble kingdoms,
to pour out upon them My indignation—
all My burning anger.
For all the earth will be consumed
by the fire of My jealousy.
A Faithful Remnant
9 For then I will restore
pure lips to the peoples,
that all may call upon the name of the LORD
and serve Him shoulder to shoulder.
10 From beyond the rivers of Cush †That is, the upper Nile region
My worshipers, My scattered people,
will bring Me an offering.
11 On that day you will not be put to shame
for any of the deeds
by which you have transgressed against Me.
For then I will remove from among you
those who rejoice in their pride,
and you will never again be haughty
on My holy mountain.
12 But I will leave within you a meek and humble people,
and they will trust in the name of the LORD.
13 The remnant of Israel
will no longer do wrong or speak lies,
nor will a deceitful tongue
be found in their mouths.
But they will feed and lie down,
with no one to make them tremble.”
Israel’s Restoration
14 Sing for joy, O Daughter of Zion;
shout aloud, O Israel!
Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,
O Daughter of Jerusalem!
15 The LORD has taken away your punishment;
He has turned back your enemy.
Israel’s King, the LORD, is among you;
no longer will you fear any harm.
16 On that day they will say to Jerusalem:
“Do not fear, O Zion;
do not let your hands fall limp.
17 The LORD your God is among you;
He is mighty to save.
He will rejoice over you with gladness;
He will quiet you with His love;‡Or He will be silent in His love; LXX and Syriac He will renew you with His love
He will rejoice over you with singing.”
18 “I will gather those among you who grieve
over the appointed feasts,
so that you will no longer suffer reproach.
19 Behold, at that time,
I will deal with all who afflict you.
I will save the lame
and gather the scattered;
and I will appoint praise and fame
for the disgraced throughout the earth.
20 At that time I will bring you in;
yes, at that time I will gather you.
For I will give you fame and praise
among all the peoples of the earth
when I restore your captives §Or your fortunes
before your very eyes,”
says the LORD.

- Zephaniah
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*3:8 LXX and Syriac; Hebrew rise up to plunder

†3:10 That is, the upper Nile region

‡3:17 Or He will be silent in His love; LXX and Syriac He will renew you with His love

§3:20 Or your fortunes

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