Zephaniah 2:8-15

New International Version

Moab and Ammon

⁸“I have heard the insults^(A) of Moab^(B)
    and the taunts of the Ammonites,^(C)
who insulted^(D) my people
    and made threats against their land.^(E)
⁹Therefore, as surely as I live,”
    declares the Lord Almighty,
    the God of Israel,
“surely Moab^(F) will become like Sodom,^(G)
    the Ammonites^(H) like Gomorrah—
a place of weeds and salt pits,
    a wasteland forever.
The remnant of my people will plunder^(I) them;
    the survivors^(J) of my nation will inherit their land.^(K)”

¹⁰This is what they will get in return for their pride,^(L)
    for insulting^(M) and mocking
    the people of the Lord Almighty.^(N)
¹¹The Lord will be awesome^(O) to them
    when he destroys all the gods^(P) of the earth.^(Q)
Distant nations will bow down to him,^(R)
    all of them in their own lands.

Cush

¹²“You Cushites,^[a]^(S) too,
will be slain by my sword.^(T)”

Assyria

¹³He will stretch out his hand against the north
    and destroy Assyria,^(U)
leaving Nineveh^(V) utterly desolate
    and dry as the desert.^(W)
¹⁴Flocks and herds^(X) will lie down there,
    creatures of every kind.
The desert owl^(Y) and the screech owl^(Z)
    will roost on her columns.
Their hooting will echo through the windows,
    rubble will fill the doorways,
    the beams of cedar will be exposed.
¹⁵This is the city of revelry^(AA)
    that lived in safety.^(AB)
She said to herself,
    “I am the one! And there is none besides me.”^(AC)
What a ruin she has become,
    a lair for wild beasts!^(AD)
All who pass by her scoff^(AE)
    and shake their fists.^(AF)