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UST by section ZEP 1:1

⌂ ← ZEP 1:1–1:18 → ║ ═ ©

The Book of Zephaniah 1

1 These are the messages that Yahweh spoke through Zephaniah during the time when Josiah, the son of Amon, was the king of Judah. Zephaniah was the son of Cushi. Cushi was the son of Gedaliah. Gedaliah was the son of Amariah. And Amariah was the son of King Hezekiah.

2 Yahweh says,

“I will completely destroy creatures all over the earth.”

3 Yahweh says,

“I am going to destroy the people and animals that live on the earth.

I am going to destroy the birds that fly in the sky and the fish that swim in the sea.

I am going to destroy the idols that represent false gods,

and I am going to destroy the people who worship those idols.

I will do this so that there will not be wicked people on the earth.

4 I am going to punish the people who live in the city of Jerusalem and in other places in the kingdom of Judah.

I am going to destroy everything in Jerusalem that is related to the worship of the false god Baal.

No one will even remember that there used to be priests of Baal in Jerusalem.

And no one will remember the priests descended from Aaron who helped people worship Baal.

5 I am going to punish the people who have been going up onto the flat roofs of their houses

in order to worship the sun, moon, and stars.

I am also going to punish the people who claim to worship me

but who swear oaths in the name of the false god Milcom.

6 Finally, I am also going to punish the people who used to worship me but no longer do.

I am going to punish the people who no longer ask for my help or ask me to tell them what they should do.”

7 Yahweh is the God whom you should worship.

Soon he will judge and punish people,

so show your respect for him by keeping quiet.

Be respectful, because Yahweh is getting ready to destroy the people of Judah.

He has decided to allow the enemies of Judah to come and destroy them.

8 Yahweh says, “At the time when I destroy the people of Judah,

I will punish their officials and the king’s sons

and all those who worship foreign gods.

9 At that time, I will punish all the officials who force their way into people‘s homes

and take away what they own in order to make themselves rich.”

10 Yahweh also says, “At the time when I destroy the kingdom of Judah,

people will cry out in distress at the Fish Gate of Jerusalem.

People will wail with sorrow in the Second Quarter of the city.

People will hear a loud crash of buildings collapsing in the towns on the hills that surround the city.

11 Your enemies are going to slaughter all those who buy and sell goods for money,

so all you people who live in the market area of Jerusalem should wail.

12 At that time, it will be as if I light lanterns and search even in the darkest places in Jerusalem

to find wicked people and punish them.

I am going to punish the people who do not even care that they are doing wicked things.

They wrongly think that I, Yahweh, do not make people experience the consequences of their actions.

13 So an enemy army is going to come and destroy their houses completely.

Then that army will carry away their valuable possessions.

This will fulfill what I told the Israelites would happen if they disobeyed me:

‘The people will build houses,

but they will not live in them.

They will plant vineyards,

but they will not be able to make wine from the grapes and drink it.’

14 It will soon be the terrible time when I, Yahweh, destroy the people who have sinned against me.

Yes, I am going to do that very soon.

The people of Judah will cry out in sorrow at that time.

Then even the strong soldiers who are trying to defend them will wail in despair.

15 That will be a time when I, Yahweh, show that I am very angry.

It will be a time when people experience much trouble.

At that time, an enemy army will destroy many things.

It will be a very sad time.

People will feel the way they do when black clouds cover the sky.

16 It will be a time when soldiers blow ram’s horns and shout to call other soldiers to come and fight.

Your enemies will tear down the walls around your cities

and the high towers at the corners of those walls.

17 Because you have sinned against me, Yahweh,

I am going to cause you people of Judah to suffer greatly.

As I told the Israelites would happen if they sinned against me,

‘You will wander around, not knowing where to go, as if you were blind.’

Your enemies will stab you with their weapons

so that your blood and your insides pour out in great quantities.

18 At the time when I, Yahweh, show how angry I am with you,

you will not be able to save yourselves by giving silver or gold to your enemies.”

Because Yahweh is very angry that people have worshiped false gods,

he is going to destroy wicked people all over the world.

Indeed, he is soon going to destroy wicked people no matter where they live in the world.

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