ZephaniahChapter 1
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1This is the message from the LORD that came to Zephaniah. He was the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah. This message came when Josiah son of Amon was king of Judah. 2"I will sweep away everything from the face of the earth," says the LORD. 3"I will sweep away people and animals.
I will sweep away the birds in the sky and the fish in the sea.
I will sweep away the idols and the wicked people who worship them.
I will cut off people from the face of the earth," says the LORD. 4"I will reach out my hand against Judah.
I will strike all who live in Jerusalem.
I will cut off from this place every last trace of Baal.
I will wipe out the names of the idol priests and the pagan priests. 5I will cut off those who bow down on their rooftops to worship the stars in the sky.
I will cut off those who bow down and make promises by the LORD but also make promises by Milcom. 6I will cut off those who turn away from following the LORD.
They do not look for the LORD or ask him for help." 7Be silent before the Lord GOD,
for the Day of the LORD is near.
The LORD has prepared a sacrifice.
He has made his guests holy. 8"On the day of the LORD's sacrifice, I will punish the leaders.
I will punish the king's sons.
I will punish all who dress in clothes from foreign lands. 9On that day I will punish all who jump over the doorway.
They fill their master's house with violence and lies. 10On that day," says the LORD,
"a cry will rise from the Fish Gate.
People will wail in the Second District.
A loud crash will come from the hills. 11Wail, you who live in the Hollow!
For all your traders will be silenced.
All who weigh out silver will be cut off. 12At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps.
I will punish the people who are settled and too comfortable.
They say to themselves, 'The LORD will do nothing, good or bad.' 13Their riches will be stolen.
Their houses will be ruined.
They will build houses but never live in them.
They will plant vineyards but never drink the wine. 14The great Day of the LORD is near.
It is near, and it is coming fast.
Listen! It is the Day of the LORD!
On that day even strong warriors will cry out bitterly. 15That day will be a day of anger.
It will be a day of trouble and pain.
It will be a day of ruin and emptiness.
It will be a day of darkness and gloom.
It will be a day of clouds and deep blackness. 16It will be a day of trumpet blasts and battle cries.
They will be against the strong, walled cities and the tall corner towers. 17I will bring so much trouble on people that they will walk like the blind.
This is because they have sinned against the LORD.
Their blood will be poured out like dust.
Their bodies will be thrown out like dung. 18Their silver and gold will not be able to save them on the day of the LORD's anger.
The whole earth will be burned up by the fire of his jealousy."
For he will make a sudden end of everyone who lives on the earth.