Zephaniah 3CJB

1Woe to her who is filthy, defiled; woe to the tyrant city!

2She wouldn't listen to the voice, wouldn't receive correction; she didn't trust in ADONAI, didn't draw close to her God.

3Her leaders there with her are roaring lions, her judges desert wolves, who don't leave even a bone for tomorrow.

4Her prophets are reckless, treacherous men; her cohanim profane the holy and do violence to Torah.

5ADONAI, who is righteous, is there among them; he never does anything wrong. Every morning he renders his judgment, every morning, without fail; yet the wrongdoer knows no shame.

6"I have cut off nations, their battlements are ruined; I have made their streets ruins, no one walks in them. Their cities are destroyed, abandoned, unpeopled.

7I said, 'Surely now you will fear me, you will receive correction'; so that her place will not be cut off by all the punishments I brought on her. But no, they only grew all the more eager to be corrupt in all that they do.

8Therefore, wait for me," says ADONAI, "for the day when I rise to witness against you, when I decide to assemble nations, to gather kingdoms together, to pour on them my indignation, all my furious anger; for all the earth will be consumed in the fire of my passion.

9For then I will change the peoples, so that they will have pure lips, to call on the name of ADONAI, all of them, and serve him with one accord.

10Even from beyond Ethiopia's rivers they will bring those who petition me, the daughter of my dispersed as my offering.

11When that day comes, you will not be ashamed of everything you have done, committing wrongs against me; for then I will remove from among you those of you who take joy in arrogance; you will no longer be full of pride on my holy mountain.

12I will leave among you a poor and afflicted people, who will find their refuge in the name of ADONAI."

13The remnant of Isra'el will not do wrong, nor will they speak lies, nor will there be found in their mouths a tongue given over to deceit; for they will be able to graze and lie down, with no one to disturb them.

14Sing, daughter of Tziyon! Shout, Isra'el! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, daughter of Yerushalayim!

15ADONAI has removed the judgments against you, he has expelled your enemy; the king of Isra'el, ADONAI, is right there with you. You no longer need to fear that anything bad will happen.

16On that day, it will be said to Yerushalayim, "Do not fear, Tziyon! don't let your hands droop down.

17ADONAI your God is right there with you, as a mighty savior. He will rejoice over you and be glad, he will be silent in his love, he will shout over you with joy."

18"I will gather those of yours who grieve over the appointed feasts and bear the burden of reproach [because they cannot keep them].

19When that time comes, I will deal with all those who oppress you. I will save her who is lame, gather her who was driven away, and make them whose shame spread over the earth the object of praise and renown.

20When that time comes, I will bring you in; when that time comes, I will gather you and make you the object of fame and praise among all the peoples of the earth - when I restore your fortunes before your very eyes," says ADONAI.

Scripture taken from the Complete Jewish Bible. Copyright © 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Messianic Jewish Publishers, 6120 Day Long Lane, Clarksville, MD 21029. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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