Zephaniah 2:8-3:20

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)

Jerusalem

3 Woe to the city of oppressors,^(AG)
    rebellious^(AH) and defiled!^(AI)
²She obeys^(AJ) no one,
    she accepts no correction.^(AK)
She does not trust^(AL) in the Lord,
    she does not draw near^(AM) to her God.
³Her officials within her
    are roaring lions;^(AN)
her rulers are evening wolves,^(AO)
    who leave nothing for the morning.^(AP)
⁴Her prophets are unprincipled;
    they are treacherous people.^(AQ)
Her priests profane the sanctuary
    and do violence to the law.^(AR)
⁵The Lord within her is righteous;^(AS)
    he does no wrong.^(AT)
Morning by morning^(AU) he dispenses his justice,
    and every new day he does not fail,^(AV)
    yet the unrighteous know no shame.^(AW)

Jerusalem Remains Unrepentant

⁶“I have destroyed nations;
    their strongholds are demolished.
I have left their streets deserted,
    with no one passing through.
Their cities are laid waste;^(AX)
    they are deserted and empty.
⁷Of Jerusalem I thought,
    ‘Surely you will fear me
    and accept correction!’^(AY)
Then her place of refuge^[b] would not be destroyed,
    nor all my punishments come upon^[c] her.
But they were still eager
    to act corruptly^(AZ) in all they did.
⁸Therefore wait^(BA) for me,”
    declares the Lord,
    “for the day I will stand up to testify.^[d]
I have decided to assemble^(BB) the nations,^(BC)
    to gather the kingdoms
and to pour out my wrath^(BD) on them—
    all my fierce anger.^(BE)
The whole world will be consumed^(BF)
    by the fire of my jealous anger.

Restoration of Israel’s Remnant

⁹“Then I will purify the lips of the peoples,
    that all of them may call^(BG) on the name of the Lord^(BH)
    and serve^(BI) him shoulder to shoulder.
¹⁰From beyond the rivers of Cush^[e]^(BJ)
    my worshipers, my scattered people,
    will bring me offerings.^(BK)
¹¹On that day you, Jerusalem, will not be put to shame^(BL)
    for all the wrongs you have done to me,^(BM)
because I will remove from you
    your arrogant boasters.^(BN)
Never again will you be haughty
    on my holy hill.^(BO)
¹²But I will leave within you
    the meek^(BP) and humble.
The remnant of Israel
    will trust^(BQ) in the name of the Lord.
¹³They^(BR) will do no wrong;^(BS)
    they will tell no lies.^(BT)
A deceitful tongue
    will not be found in their mouths.^(BU)
They will eat and lie down^(BV)
    and no one will make them afraid.^(BW)”

¹⁴Sing, Daughter Zion;^(BX)
    shout aloud,^(BY) Israel!
Be glad and rejoice^(BZ) with all your heart,
    Daughter Jerusalem!
¹⁵The Lord has taken away your punishment,
    he has turned back your enemy.
The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you;^(CA)
    never again will you fear^(CB) any harm.^(CC)
¹⁶On that day
    they will say to Jerusalem,
“Do not fear, Zion;
    do not let your hands hang limp.^(CD)
¹⁷The Lord your God is with you,
    the Mighty Warrior who saves.^(CE)
He will take great delight^(CF) in you;
    in his love he will no longer rebuke you,^(CG)
    but will rejoice over you with singing.”^(CH)

¹⁸“I will remove from you
    all who mourn over the loss of your appointed festivals,
    which is a burden and reproach for you.
¹⁹At that time I will deal
    with all who oppressed^(CI) you.
I will rescue the lame;
    I will gather the exiles.^(CJ)
I will give them praise^(CK) and honor
    in every land where they have suffered shame.
²⁰At that time I will gather you;
    at that time I will bring^(CL) you home.
I will give you honor^(CM) and praise^(CN)
    among all the peoples of the earth
when I restore your fortunes^[f]^(CO)
    before your very eyes,”
says the Lord.