Zephaniah 3

1 Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city!

2 She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in יהוה; she drew not near to her God (Elohim).

3 Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till tomorrow.

4 Her prophets are light and treacherous persons; her kohanim have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the Torah.

5 The just יהוה is in the midst thereof; He will not do iniquity. Every morning doth He bring His judgment to light, He faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame.

6 “I have cut off the nations; their towers are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none passeth by; their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, that there is none inhabitant.

7 I said, ‘Surely you wilt fear Me, you wilt receive instruction’; so their dwelling should not be cut off, howsoever I punished them; but they rose early, and corrupted all their doings.

8 “Therefore wait you upon Me,” saith יהוה, “until the day that I rise up to the prey, for My determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them Mine indignation, even all My fierce anger; for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of My jealousy.

9 For then will I turn (restore) to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of יהוה (YHWH), and serve with one consent.

10 From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia (Kush) My suppliants, even the daughter of My dispersed, shall bring Mine offering.

11 In that day shalt you not be ashamed for all your doings, wherein you have transgressed against me; for then I will take away out of the midst of you them that rejoice in your pride, and you shalt no more be haughty because of My holy mountain.

12 I will also leave in the midst of you an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of יהוה.

13 The remnant of Yisrael shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth, for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.”

14 Sing, O daughter of Zion (Tsiyon); shout, O Yisrael; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem (Yerushalayim).

15 יהוה hath taken away your judgments, He hath cast out your enemy; the king of Yisrael, even יהוה, is in the midst of you; you shalt not see disaster (raah) any more.

16 In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem (Yerushalayim), “Fear you not;” and to Zion

(Tsiyon), “Let not your hands be slack.”

17 יהוה your God (Elohim) in the midst of you is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over you with joy; He will rest in His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”

18 “I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of you, to whom the reproach of it was a burden.

19 Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict you; and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame.

20 At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you, for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes,” saith יהוה.