ZephaniahChapter 3

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¹How terrible it will be for the city that crushes people!
She rebels, and she is unclean! ²She listens to no one.
She will not be corrected.
She does not trust in the LORD.
She has not come close to her God. ³Her leaders are roaring lions.
Her judges are wolves in the evening.
They leave nothing for the morning. ⁴Her prophets are careless men who cannot be trusted.
Her priests treat the holy place as if it were common.
They break the law and twist it. ⁵The LORD who lives in her is righteous.
He does nothing wrong.
Morning after morning he brings his justice.
Every dawn he does not fail.
But the people who do wrong feel no shame. ⁶"I have cut off nations.
Their corner towers are destroyed.
I have left their streets empty, with no one walking through them.
Their cities are ruined.
No one is left, and no one lives there. ⁷I said, 'Surely you will fear me and accept correction.'
Then her home would not be cut off, in spite of all the ways I punished her.
But they were eager to do evil in everything they did. ⁸So wait for me," says the LORD.
"Wait for the day I rise up to be a witness.
For I have decided to gather nations and bring kingdoms together.
I will pour out my anger on them, all my burning anger.
For the whole earth will be burned up by the fire of my jealousy. ⁹Then I will give the peoples pure lips again.
Then all of them will call on the name of the LORD.
They will serve him side by side. ¹⁰My worshipers, my scattered people, will come from beyond the rivers of Cush.
They will bring me an offering. ¹¹On that day you will not be put to shame for all the wrong things you did against me.
For then I will remove from among you the people who brag in their pride.
You will never be proud again on my holy mountain. ¹²But I will leave in you a gentle and humble people.
They will trust in the name of the LORD. ¹³The people of Israel who are left will not do wrong anymore.
They will not tell lies.
No lying tongue will be found in their mouths.
They will eat and lie down to rest.
No one will make them afraid." ¹⁴Sing for joy, Daughter Zion!
Shout loudly, Israel!
Be glad and celebrate with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem! ¹⁵The LORD has taken away your punishment.
He has turned your enemy away.
The LORD, the King of Israel, is with you.
You will never again be afraid of any harm. ¹⁶On that day they will say to Jerusalem,
"Do not be afraid, Zion.
Do not let your hands hang down weak. ¹⁷The LORD your God is with you.
He is a mighty one who saves.
He will be glad over you with joy.
He will quiet you with his love.
He will celebrate over you with singing." ¹⁸"I will gather those of you who are sad about the appointed feasts. Then you will not have to carry shame anymore. ¹⁹Look, at that time I will deal with all who hurt you.
I will save the lame.
I will gather those who were scattered.
They were put to shame all over the earth.
But I will give them praise and honor. ²⁰At that time I will bring you home.
Yes, at that time I will gather you.
For I will make you famous and praised among all the peoples of the earth
when I bring back your captives while you watch," says the LORD.