Zephaniah 3 - Amplified Bible(AMP)

Woe to Jerusalem and the Nations

1Woe (judgment is coming) to her who is rebellious and defiled,

The tyrannical city!

2She did not listen and heed the voice;

She accepted no correction.

She did not trust in the Lord;

She did not draw near to her God.

3Her officials within her are roaring lions;

Her judges are the wolves at evening,

They leave nothing for the morning.

4Her prophets are reckless and treacherous men;

Her priests have profaned the sanctuary;

They have done violence to the law.

5The Lord is righteous within her;

He will do no injustice.

Every morning He brings His justice to light;

He does not fail.

But the unjust person knows no shame.

6“I have cut off and destroyed nations;

Their corner towers (battlements) are in ruins.

I have made their streets desolate

So that no one passes by;

Their cities are destroyed

So that there is no man, there is no inhabitant.

7“I said, ‘Most certainly you will fear Me;

Accept correction.’

So Jerusalem’s dwelling will not be cut off

In accordance with all that I have appointed concerning her,

But they were eager to make all their deeds corrupt.

8¶“Therefore wait for Me,” declares the Lord,

“[Wait] for the day when I rise up as a witness.

For it is My decision and My right to gather the nations,

To assemble kingdoms,

To pour out on them My indignation,

All My burning anger;

For all the earth shall be consumed

By the fire of My zeal.

9“Then I will give to the peoples purified lips,

That all of them may call on the name of the Lord,

To serve Him shoulder to shoulder (united).

10“From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia

My worshipers, My dispersed ones,

Will bring My offerings.

11“On that day you will feel no shame

Because of all your acts

By which you have rebelled and sinned against Me;

Then I will remove from among you

Your rejoicing ones who delight in their pride;

And you will never again behave arrogantly

On My holy mountain.

A Remnant of Israel

12“But I will leave among you

A humble and lowly people,

And they will take refuge and trust confidently in the name of the Lord.

13“The remnant of Israel will do no wrong

Nor speak lies,

Nor will a deceitful tongue

Be found in their mouths;

For they will eat and lie down

With no one to make them tremble and feel afraid.”

14¶Shout for joy, O Daughter of Zion!

Shout in triumph, O Israel!

Rejoice, be in high spirits and glory with all your heart,

O Daughter of Jerusalem!

15The Lord has taken away the judgments against you;

He has cleared away your enemies.

The King of Israel, even the Lord, is in your midst;

You will no longer fear disaster.

16In that day it will be said to Jerusalem:

“Do not be afraid, O Zion;

Do not let your hands fall limp.

17“The Lord your God is in your midst,

A Warrior who saves.

He will rejoice over you with joy;

He will be quiet in His love,

He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.

18“I will gather those who grieve about the appointed feasts—

They came from you,;

On whom the reproach is a burden.

19“Behold, at that time I am going to deal

With all your oppressors;

I will save the lame

And gather the scattered,

And I will turn their shame into praise and renown

In every land.

20“At that time I will bring you in,

Yes, at the time I gather you together;

For I will make you a name and a praise

Among all the peoples of the earth

When I restore your fortunes before your eyes,”

Says the Lord.