\NormalFont\ShortTitle{Zephaniah}
{\MT Zephaniah

\par }\ChapOne{1}{\PP \VerseOne{1}The
{\ND{
Lord}}’s
message,
which
came
to
Zephaniah,
son
of
Cushi,
son
of
Gedaliah,
son
of
Amariah,
son
of
Hezekiah,
in
the
time
of
Josiah
of
Judah
who
was
son
of
Amon.
\par }{\SH The
Day
of
Judgment
on
Judah
\par }{\Q \VS{2}I
will
utterly
destroy
everything
\par }{\QB from
off
the
face
of
the
earth,
\par }{\QC says
the
{\ND{
Lord}}.
\par }{\Q \VS{3}I
will
sweep
away
human
and
animal,
\par }{\QB the
birds
of
the
sky
\par }{\QB and
the
fish
of
the
sea.
\par }{\Q I
will
cause
the
wicked
to
stumble,
\par }{\QB and
I
will
cut
off
humanity
from
the
face
of
the
earth,
\par }{\QC says
the
{\ND{
Lord}}.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{4}I
will
stretch
out
my
hand
over
Judah
\par }{\QB and
all
the
inhabitants
of
Jerusalem,
\par }{\Q and
I
will
cut
off
from
this
place
the
last
remnant
of
Baal
\par }{\QB and
the
name
of
the
heathen
priests,
\par }{\Q \VS{5}and
those
who
worship
on
the
housetops
\par }{\QB to
the
stars
in
the
sky,
\par }{\Q and
those
worshippers
of
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
\par }{\QB who
also
pay
homage
to
Milcom,
\par }{\Q \VS{6}and
those
who
turn
back
\par }{\QB from
following
the
{\ND{
Lord}},
\par }{\Q And
those
who
do
not
seek
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
\par }{\QB nor
strive
to
find
him.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{7}Be
silent
before
the
Lord
{\ND{
God}},
\par }{\QB for
near
is
the
day
of
the
{\ND{
Lord}},
\par }{\Q for
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
has
prepared
a
sacrifice,
\par }{\QB he
has
sanctified
his
guests.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{8}On
the
day
of
the
{\ND{
Lord’s}}
sacrifice:
\par }{\Q I
will
punish
the
officers
and
the
royal
princes,
\par }{\QB and
all
those
who
clothe
themselves
in
foreign
apparel.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{9}On
that
day:
\par }{\Q I
will
punish
all
who
leap
over
the
threshold,
\par }{\QB who
fill
the
house
of
their
lord
with
violence
and
deceit.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{10}Listen
on
that
day,
says
the
{\ND{
Lord}}:
\par }{\Q A
cry
will
be
heard
from
the
Fish
Gate,
\par }{\QB and
a
wailing
from
the
New
Quarter,
\par }{\QB and
a
great
din
from
the
hills.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{11}Those
who
live
in
the
Mortar
wail,
\par }{\QB for
all
the
traders
are
silenced,
\par }{\QB the
money counters
wiped
out.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{12}I
will
search
Jerusalem
with
a
lamp,
\par }{\QB I
will
punish
those
who
are
at
ease,
\par }{\Q who
sit
comfortably
with
their
wine,
\par }{\QB who
say
to
themselves,
\par }{\Q ‘the
{\ND{
Lord}}
brings
neither
prosperity
nor
calamity.’
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{13}Their
wealth
will
become
a
prey
\par }{\QB and
their
houses
a
desolation.
\par }{\Q Though
they
build
houses,
\par }{\QB they
will
not
inhabit
them;
\par }{\Q though
they
plant
vineyards,
\par }{\QB they
will
not
drink
wine
from
them.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{14}Near
is
the
day
of
the
{\ND{
Lord}}!
\par }{\QB Near
and
rapidly
approaching!
\par }{\Q Near
is
the
bitter
day
of
the
{\ND{
Lord}},
\par }{\QB and
the scream
of
the
warrior.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{15}That
day
is
a
day
of
wrath,
\par }{\QB a
day
of
trouble
and
distress,
\par }{\Q a
day
of
destruction
and
desolation,
\par }{\QB a
day
of
darkness
and
gloom,
\par }{\Q a
day
of
clouds
and
thick
darkness,
\par }{\QB \VS{16}a
day
of
the
trumpet
and battle-cry,
\par }{\Q against
the
fortified
cities
\par }{\QB and
against
the
high
battlements.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{17}And
I
will
bring
distress
upon
the
people
\par }{\QB and
they
will
walk
as
the
blind,
\par }{\QB because
they
have
sinned
against
the
{\ND{
Lord}},
\par }{\Q and
their
blood
will
be
poured
out
as
dust
\par }{\QB and
their
flesh
as
dung.
\par }{\PP \VS{18}Neither
their
silver
nor
their
gold
will
be
able
to
save
them.
For
in
the
day
of
the
wrath
of
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
and
in
the
fire
of
his
fury
the
whole
earth
will
be
consumed.
For
he
will
make
a
speedy
end
of
all
the
inhabitants
of
the
earth.

\par }\Chap{2}{\SH The Imminent Judgment upon the Nations
\par }{\Q \VerseOne{1}Be
ashamed
within
yourselves,
be
ashamed,
\par }{\QB \VS{2}before
you
become
as
the
drifting
chaff,
\par }{\QB before
the
anger
of
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
comes
upon
you,
\par }{\QB before
the
day
of
the
{\ND{
Lord}}’s
wrath
comes
upon
you.
\par }{\Q \VS{3}Seek
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
all
you
meek
of
the
earth,
\par }{\QB you
who
obey
his
law;
\par }{\Q Seek
righteousness,
seek
meekness;
\par }{\QB perhaps
you
may
be
hidden
in
the
day
of
the
{\ND{
Lord}}’s
wrath.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{4}For
Gaza
will
be
forsaken;
\par }{\QB Ashkelon
a
desolation;
\par }{\Q Ashdod –
by
noon
will
they
rout
her
\par }{\QB and
Ekron
be
torn
up!
\par }{\Q \VS{5}Woe
to
those
who
live
by
the
sea
coast,
\par }{\QB people
of
the
Cherethites!
\par }{\Q The
word
of
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
is
against
you,
\par }{\QB Canaan,
land
of
the
Philistines!
\par }{\PP I
will
destroy
you
so
that
you
will
be
without
inhabitants,
\VS{6}and
you
will
become
shepherds’ cots
and
folds
for
flocks.
\VS{7}The
sea
coast
will
belong
to
the
survivors
of
the
house
of
Judah.
They
will
pasture
their
flocks
there.
In
the
house
of
Ashkelon
they
will
lie
down
at
evening.
The
{\ND{
Lord}}
their
God
will
be
with
them
and
restore
their
fortunes.
\par }{\Q \VS{8}I
have
heard
the
taunts
of
Moab,
\par }{\QB and
the
revilings
of
the
Ammonites,
\par }{\Q how
they
have
taunted
my
people,
\par }{\QB and
spoken boastfully
concerning
their
border.
\par }{\Q \VS{9}Therefore
as
I
live,
says
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
of
hosts,
the
God
of
Israel:
\par }{\QB Moab
will
be
like
Sodom,
\par }{\QC and
the
Ammonites
like
Gomorrah,
\par }{\QB a
pile
of
nettles
and
saltpits,
\par }{\QC and
a
desolation,
forever.
\par }{\QB The
residue
of
my
people
will
plunder
them,
\par }{\QC and
the
survivors
of
my
nation
will
inherit
them.
\par }{\Q \VS{10}This
will
they
have
for
their
pride,
\par }{\QB because
they
have
taunted
and
spoken boastfully
\par }{\QB against
the
people
of
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
of
hosts.
\par }{\Q \VS{11}The
{\ND{
Lord}}
will
terrify
them;
\par }{\QB he
will
reduce
all
the
gods
of
the
earth;
\par }{\Q then
all
the
peoples
of
the
nations
will
worship
him,
\par }{\QB each
in
their
own
land.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{12}You,
also,
Ethiopians,
\par }{\QB slain
by
his
sword
are
you!
\par }{\Q \VS{13}And
he
will
stretch
out
his
hand
\par }{\QB against
the
north
and
destroy
Assyria;
\par }{\Q And
he
will
make
Nineveh
a
desolation,
\par }{\QB dry
as
the
wilderness.
\par }{\Q \VS{14}Herds
will
lie
down
in
it,
\par }{\QB every
beast
of
the
earth,
\par }{\Q Desert
owl
and screech
owl
\par }{\QB will
lodge
in
its
capitals.
\par }{\Q The
owl
will hoot
in
the
window,
\par }{\QB the
raven
on
the doorstep,
\par }{\QB all
stripped
bare
of
cedar.
\par }{\PP \VS{15}This
is
the
exultant
city
which
sat
secure.
The
city
who
said
to
herself,
I
am
and
there
is
none
else!
How
has
she
become
a
desolation!
A
lair
of
beasts!
Every
passerby hisses
at
her,
shakes
their
hand.

\par }\Chap{3}{\SH Jerusalem’s Deep-seated Corruption
\par }{\Q \VerseOne{1}Woe
to
the
rebellious
and
unclean
city
of
oppression,
\par }{\Q \VS{2}She
has
not
obeyed
the
voice,
\par }{\QB she
has
not
accepted
instruction,
\par }{\Q In
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
she
has
not
trusted,
\par }{\QB to
her
God
she
has
not
drawn
near.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{3}Her
rulers
in
her
midst
are
roaring
lions.
\par }{\Q Her
judges
are
evening
wolves,
\par }{\QB who
leave
nothing
over
until
the
morning,
\par }{\Q \VS{4}Her
prophets
are braggarts,
faithless
men.
\par }{\Q Her
priests
profane
what
is
holy
\par }{\QB and
do
violence
to
the
law.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{5}The
{\ND{
Lord}}
is
righteous
in
her
midst,
\par }{\QB he
does
no
wrong,
\par }{\Q Morning
by
morning
\par }{\QB he
establishes
his
decree,
\par }{\Q Light
is
not
lacking,
\par }{\QB an
oversight
is
unknown.
\par }{\Q But
the
unjust
know
no
shame.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{6}‘I
have
cut
off
nations,
\par }{\QB their turrets
are
destroyed;
\par }{\Q I
have
laid
waste
their
broad
streets,
\par }{\QB so
that
none
passes
over
them.
\par }{\Q Desolate
are
their
cities
without
people,
\par }{\QB without
inhabitants.’
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{7}I
said:
\par }{\Q ‘Surely
the
city
will
fear
me,
\par }{\QB she
will
accept
instruction.
\par }{\Q Nothing
will
vanish
from
her
eyes
\par }{\QB that
I
have
impressed
upon
her;
\par }{\Q But
the
more
zealously
have
they
made
all
their
deeds
corrupt.’
\par }{\SH The
Future
Vindication
and
Exultation
of
Jerusalem
\par }{\PP \VS{8}Wait
for
me,
is
the
{\ND{
Lord}}’s
message,
until
the
day
when
I
stand
up
as
a
witness,
for
it
is
my
fixed
purpose
to
gather
the
nations,
to
collect
the
kingdoms,
to
pour
upon
them
my
wrath
and
my
hot
anger;
for
by
the
fire
of
my
fury
will
all
the
earth
be
consumed.
\par }{\PP \VS{9}For
then
I
will
purify
the
lips
of
all
peoples,
so
that
they
will
all
call
on
the
{\ND{
Lord}}’s
name,
to
serve
him
with
one
accord.
\VS{10}From
beyond
the
rivers
of
Cush
my
worshipers
will
bring
me
offerings.
\par }{\PP \VS{11}On
that
day
you
will
no
longer
be
ashamed
of
all
your
deeds
by
which
you
rebelled
against
me.
For
I
will
rid
you
of
your
proudly
arrogant
ones,
and
you
will
never
again
be
haughty
on
my
holy
mountain.
\VS{12}But
I
will
leave
in
your
midst
a
people
humble
and
poor,
and
the
remnant
of
Israel
will
trust
in
the
name
of
the
{\ND{
Lord}}.
\VS{13}They
will
not
do
evil,
nor
speak
falsehood,
and
a
deceitful
tongue
will
not
be
found
in
their
mouth;
but
they
will
pasture
and
lie
down,
and
no
one
will
make
them
afraid.
\par }{\Q \VS{14}Cry
out
with
joy,
daughter
of
Zion,
\par }{\QB shout
aloud,
Israel!
\par }{\Q Rejoice
and
exult
with
all
your
heart,
\par }{\QB daughter
of
Jerusalem.
\par }{\Q \VS{15}The
{\ND{
Lord}}
has
put
away
your
adversaries,
\par }{\QB he
has
turned
away
your
foes;
\par }{\Q the
{\ND{
Lord}}
is
king
in
your
midst,
\par }{\QB you
will
fear
evil
no
more.
\par }{\Q \VS{16}In
that
day
it
will
be
said
to
Jerusalem:
\par }{\QB Fear
not!
\par }{\QB Zion,
let
not
your
hands
grow
weak!
\par }{\Q \VS{17}The
{\ND{
Lord}}
your
God
is
in
your
midst,
\par }{\QB a
victorious hero.
\par }{\Q He
will
rejoice
over
you
with
joy,
\par }{\QB he
will
renew
his
love,
\par }{\Q he
will
exult
over
you
with
singing,
\par }{\QB \VS{18}as
on
a
day
of
festival.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q I
will
take
away
from
you
your
disgrace,
\par }{\QB and
put
away
from
you
your
reproach.
\par }{\Q \VS{19}I
will
destroy
at
that
time
\par }{\QB all
who
afflict
you.
\par }{\Q I
will
deliver
the
lame,
\par }{\QB and
gather
the
outcast,
\par }{\Q I
will
make
them
an
object
of
renown
\par }{\QB and
fame
in
all
the
earth.
\par }{\Q \VS{20}I
will
do
good
to
you,
\par }{\QB at
the
time
when
I
gather
you.
\par }{\Q For
I
will
make
you
an
object
of
fame
and
renown
\par }{\QB among
all
the
peoples
of
the
earth;
\par }{\Q when
I
bring
back
your
captivity
before
your
eyes.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q This
says
the
{\ND{
Lord}}.
\par }