Zephaniah Prophesies Judgment on Judah

(Matthew 13:36–43)

1 [This is] the word of the LORD that came to Zephaniah son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah:

2 “I will completely sweep away

everything from the face of the earth,” declares the LORD.

3 “I will sweep away man and beast;

I will sweep away the birds of the air,

and the fish of the sea,

and the idols with their wicked {worshipers}.[fn]

I will cut off mankind

from the face of the earth,” declares the LORD.

4 “I will stretch out My hand against Judah

and against all who dwell in Jerusalem.

I will cut off from this place every remnant of Baal,

the names of the idolatrous and [pagan] priests—

5 those who bow on the rooftops

{to worship} the host of heaven,

those who bow down and swear by the LORD

but also swear by Milcom,[fn]

6 and those who turn back

from [following] the LORD,

neither seeking the LORD

nor inquiring of Him.”