Zephaniah 3

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

1Trouble is coming to this city. It is dirty with wrong, and it hurts its own people.

2She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the LORD; she drew not near to her God.

2She would not listen. She would not let anyone correct her. She did not trust the LORD. She did not come close to her God.

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

3Her leaders are like lions that roar. Her judges are like hungry wolves at night. They leave nothing at all for the morning.

4Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.

4Her prophets, who should tell people what God says, are careless and cannot be trusted. Her priests, who serve at God's house, make that holy place dirty. They twist God's law.

5The just LORD 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.

5The LORD is right there in the city, and he is fair. He never does wrong. Every single morning he shows what is right. He never fails. But people who do wrong feel no shame at all.

6I 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.

6God says: I have cut off nations. Their strong towers are broken down. I emptied their streets, so no one walks by. Their cities are ruined, with no people living there.

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

7I said, "Surely you will respect me now. Surely you will take my correction." Then their city would not have been destroyed, even after all my punishing. But they got up early to do wrong.

8Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, 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.

8So wait for me, says the LORD. Wait for the day I stand up to speak against them. I have decided to gather the nations and bring the kingdoms together. I will pour out my anger on them. The whole earth will be burned up by the fire of my jealousy.

NoteThe old English says God will "rise up to the prey," which sounds like hunting. The words really mean God standing up to speak against people, the way someone stands up in a courtroom.

9For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent.

9After that I will make the peoples' words clean and true. Then they can all call on the LORD's name. They will serve him side by side.

10From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering.

10My people were scattered far away, past the rivers of Ethiopia. They will come and bring me a gift.

11In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain.

11On that day you will not be ashamed of the wrong things you did to me. I will take away the proud people from among you. You will never act proud again on my holy hill in Jerusalem.

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

12I will leave among you people who are gentle and humble. They will trust the LORD's name.

13The remnant of Israel 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.

13The people of Israel who are left will not do wrong. They will not tell lies. No lying words will be found in their mouths. They will eat and lie down to rest. No one will make them afraid.

14Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.

14Sing, people of Zion! Shout out loud, Israel! Be glad and full of joy with your whole heart, people of Jerusalem!

Note"Daughter of Zion" and "daughter of Jerusalem" are ways of saying the people who live in the city. Zion is another name for Jerusalem.

15The LORD hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the LORD, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more.

15The LORD has taken your punishment away. He has sent your enemy away. The LORD, the King of Israel, is right here with you. You will not be afraid of harm anymore.

16In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack.

16On that day people will say to Jerusalem, "Do not be afraid, Zion. Do not let your hands hang down."

NoteHands that hang down was an old picture for giving up. "Do not let your hands hang down" means do not lose heart.

17The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

17The LORD your God is with you. He is strong, and he saves. He is glad about you. His love will make you quiet and calm. He will sing because he is happy with you.

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

18I will gather your people who are sad because they miss the feast days. Then you will not be shamed anymore.

19Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: 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.

19Look! At that time I will take care of everyone who hurts you. I will save those who cannot walk well. I will bring home those who were driven away. Everywhere they were shamed, I will give them praise and a good name.

20At 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 the LORD.

20At that time I will bring you back home. I will gather you together. I will make you known and praised among all the peoples of the earth. You will watch with your own eyes as I bring your people back, says the LORD.