\NormalFont\ShortTitle{ZEPHANIAH}
{\MTB This book contains the account of Zephaniah foretelling about God punishing the Israeli people and then restoring them. We call this book
\par }{\MT Zephaniah

\par }\ChapOne{1}{\PP \VerseOne{1}{\ADD{
I
am}}
Zephaniah,
the
son
of
Cushi,
the
grandson
of
Gedaliah,
and
the great-grandson
of
Amariah,
whose
father
was
{\ADD{
King}}
Hezekiah.
Yahweh
gave
this
message
to
me
during
the
time
when
{\ADD{
King}}
Amon’s
son
Josiah
was
the
King
of
Judah.
\par }{\SH The
future
destruction
\par }{\Q \VS{2}Yahweh
says,
\par }{\QB “I
will ◄sweep
away/destroy►
everything [HYP]
that
is
on
the
earth.
\par }{\Q \VS{3}I
will
sweep
away
people
and
animals.
\par }{\QB I
will
sweep
away
birds
and
fish.
\par }{\Q I
will
get
rid
of
wicked
people;
\par }{\QB there
will
be
no
more
{\ADD{
wicked}} [HYP]
people
on
the
earth.”
\par }{\BB \par }{\SH Yahweh
will
punish
Judah
\par }{\Q \VS{4}“{\ADD{
These
are
some
of
the
things
that
I
will
do}}:
\par }{\QB I
will
punish
the
people
who
live
in
Jerusalem
and
{\ADD{
other
places
in}}
Judah.
\par }{\QB I
will
destroy
everything
that
has
been
used
in
the
worship
of
Baal.
\par }{\Q I
will
cause
{\ADD{
people}}
to
no
longer
remember
the
names
of
the
pagan
priests
\par }{\QB or
the
{\ADD{
other}}
priests
{\ADD{
who
have
turned
away
from
me}}.
\par }{\Q \VS{5}{\ADD{
I
will
get
rid
of}}
those
who
go
up
on
the
roofs
{\ADD{
of
their
houses}}
and
worship
the
sun
and
moon
and
stars,
\par }{\QB those
who
claim
that
they
worship
me
but
{\ADD{
also}}
worship
{\ADD{
their
god}}
Molech.
\par }{\Q \VS{6}I
will
get
rid
of
all
those
who
previously
worshiped
me
but
no
longer
do,
\par }{\QB those
who
no
{\ADD{
longer}}
seek
my
{\ADD{
help
or
ask
me
to
tell
them
what
they
should
do.”}}
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{7}Be
silent
in
front
of
Yahweh
the
Lord,
\par }{\QB because
it
will
soon
be
the
time/day
when
Yahweh
{\ADD{
will
judge
and
punish
people}}.
\par }{\Q Yahweh
has
prepared
to
get
rid
of
{\ADD{
the
people
of
Judah}};
\par }{\QB they
will
be
like [MET]
animals
that
are
slaughtered
for
sacrifices,
\par }{\QB and
he
has
chosen
{\ADD{
their
enemies}}
to
be
the
ones
who
will
get
rid
of
them.
\par }{\Q \VS{8}Yahweh
says, “On
that
day
when
I
will
get
rid
of
{\ADD{
the
people
of
Judah}},
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
I
will
punish}}
their
officials
and
the
king’s
sons,
\par }{\QB and
{\ADD{
I
will
punish}}
all
those
who
worship
foreign
gods [MTY].
\par }{\Q \VS{9}I
will
punish
those
who
{\ADD{
show
that
they
revere
their
god Dagan}}
by avoiding stepping
on
the
threshold
{\ADD{
of
his
temple}},
\par }{\QB and
those
who
do
violent
things
and
tell
lies
in
the
temples
of
their
gods.”
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{10}Yahweh
{\ADD{
also}}
says,
\par }{\QB “On
that
day,
people
will
cry
{\ADD{
out}}
at
the
Fish
Gate
{\ADD{
of
Jerusalem}}.
\par }{\Q People
will
wail
in
the newer
part
of
the
city,
\par }{\QB and
{\ADD{
people
will
hear}}
a
loud
crash
{\ADD{
of
buildings collapsing}}
in
the
hills.
\par }{\Q \VS{11}{\ADD{
So,
all
you}}
people
who
live
in
the
market
area
{\ADD{
of
Jerusalem}}
should
wail,
\par }{\QB because
all
those
who
sell
goods
and
weigh
out
silver
will
be
slaughtered.
\par }{\Q \VS{12}{\ADD{
It
will
be
as
though}}
I
will
light lanterns
to
search
in
{\ADD{
dark
places
in}}
Jerusalem
\par }{\QB for
those
who
have
become
very
satisfied
with
their
behavior
and
complacent
{\ADD{
about
their
sins}}.
\par }{\Q They
think
that
{\ADD{
I}},
Yahweh,
will
do
nothing
to
them,
\par }{\QB neither
good
things
nor
bad
things.
\par }{\Q \VS{13}{\ADD{
But
I
say
that}}
their
valuable
possessions
will
be
plundered/stolen
{\ADD{
by
their
enemies}},
\par }{\QB and
their
houses
will
be
destroyed.
\par }{\Q They
will
build
{\ADD{
new}}
homes,
\par }{\QB but
they
will
not
live
in
them;
\par }{\Q they
will
plant
vineyards,
\par }{\QB but
they
will
never
drink
{\ADD{
any}}
wine
{\ADD{
made
from
grapes
that
grow
there}}.”
\par }{\SH The
day
of
punishment
\par }{\Q \VS{14}It
will
soon
be
the
day/time
when
Yahweh
{\ADD{
will
punish
people}}.
\par }{\QB It
will
be
here
quickly.
\par }{\Q It
will
be
a
time
{\ADD{
when
people
cry}}
bitterly,
\par }{\QB a
time
when
{\ADD{
even}}
brave
soldiers
will
cry
loudly.
\par }{\Q \VS{15}It
will
be
a
time
when
{\ADD{
God
shows
that
he
is}}
very
angry,
\par }{\QB a
time
when
{\ADD{
people
experience
much}}
distress/suffering
and
trouble.
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
It
will
be}}
a
time
{\ADD{
when
many
things
are}}
ruined
and
destroyed [DOU].
\par }{\QB It
will
be
a
time
when
it
is
very
gloomy
and
dark [DOU],
\par }{\QB when
the
clouds
are
very
black.
\par }{\Q \VS{16}It
will
be
a
time
when
{\ADD{
soldiers}}
will
blow
trumpets
{\ADD{
to
call
other
soldiers}}
to
battle.
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
Your
enemies}}
will
tear
down
the
walls
around
your
cities
\par }{\QB and
the
high
towers
{\ADD{
at
the
corners
of
those
walls}}.
\par }{\Q \VS{17}Because
you
sinned
against
Yahweh,
\par }{\QB he
will
cause
you
to
experience
great
distress;
\par }{\QB you
will
walk
{\ADD{
around groping}}
like [SIM]
blind
people
do.
\par }{\Q Your
blood
will
flow
{\ADD{
from
your
bodies}}
like [SIM]
water,
\par }{\QB and
your
corpses
will
lie
on
the
ground
and
rot [SIM].
\par }{\Q \VS{18}At
the
time
that
{\ADD{
Yahweh
shows
that
he}}
is
very
angry
{\ADD{
with
you}},
\par }{\QB you
will
not
be
able
to
save
yourselves
\par }{\QB by
{\ADD{
giving}}
silver
or
gold
{\ADD{
to
your
enemies}}.
\par }{\Q Because
Yahweh ◄is
very
jealous/does
not
want
people
to
worship
any
other
god►,
\par }{\QB he
will
send
a
fire
to
burn
up
the
entire
world,
\par }{\Q and
he
will
suddenly
get
rid
of
all
the
{\ADD{
wicked}}
people
who
live
on
the
earth.

\par }\Chap{2}{\SH A call to repentance
\par }{\Q \VerseOne{1}You
people
{\ADD{
of
Judah}}
who
ought
to
be
ashamed,
\par }{\QB gather
together [DOU].
\par }{\Q \VS{2}Yahweh
is
extremely
angry
with
you,
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
so
gather
together
now}},
\par }{\Q before
it
is
time
for
him
to
punish [MTY]
you
\par }{\QB and
blow
you
away
like [SIM]
{\ADD{
the
wind
blows
away}}
chaff.
\par }{\Q \VS{3}All
you
people
in
Judah
who
are
humble,
\par }{\QB worship
Yahweh,
and
obey
what
he
has
commanded.
\par }{\Q Try
to
do
what
is
right
\par }{\QB and
to
be
humble.
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
If
you
do
that}},
perhaps
Yahweh
will
protect/spare
you
\par }{\QB on
the
day
when
he
punishes [MTY]
people.
\par }{\SH Yahweh
will
punish
Philistia
\par }{\Q \VS{4}{\ADD{
When
Yahweh
punishes
Philistia}},
\par }{\QB Gaza
and
Ashkelon
{\ADD{
cities}}
will
be
deserted/abandoned.
\par }{\Q Ashdod
{\ADD{
city}}
will
be
attacked
and
the
people
expelled
at
noon
{\ADD{
when
people
are
resting}};
\par }{\QB the
{\ADD{
people
of
Ekron
city}}
will
{\ADD{
also}}
be
driven
out.
\par }{\Q \VS{5}And
terrible
things
will
happen
to
you
people
of
Philistia
who
live
near
the
sea,
\par }{\QB because
Yahweh
has
decided [MTY]
that
he
will
punish [MTY]
you,
{\ADD{
also}}.
\par }{\Q He
will
get
rid
of
all
of
you;
\par }{\QB not
one
person
will ◄survive/remain
alive►.
\par }{\Q \VS{6}The
land
{\ADD{
of
Philistia}}
near
the
sea
will
become
a
pasture,
\par }{\QB a
place
for
shepherds
and
their
sheep
pens.
\par }{\Q \VS{7}The
people
of
Judah
who ◄survive/are
still
alive►
will
possess
that
land.
\par }{\QB At
night
they
will
sleep
in
the
{\ADD{
deserted}}
houses
in
Ashkelon.
\par }{\Q Yahweh
will
take
care
of
them;
\par }{\QB he
will
enable
them
to
prosper
again.
\par }{\SH Yahweh
will
punish
Moab
and
Ammon
\par }{\PP \VS{8}The
Commander
of
the
armies
of
angels,
the
God
to
whom
{\ADD{
we}} Israeli
people
{\ADD{
belong}},
says
{\ADD{
this}}:
\par }{\Q “I
have
heard
the
people
of
Moab
and
Ammon
\par }{\Q when
they
insulted [DOU]
my
people,
\par }{\QB and
when
they
said
that
they
would
conquer
my
people’s
country.
\par }{\Q \VS{9}So
now,
{\ADD{
as
surely}}
as
I
live,
{\ADD{
I
will
destroy}}
Moab
and
Ammon
\par }{\QB like [SIM]
{\ADD{
I
destroyed}}
Gomorrah
{\ADD{
city}}.
\par }{\Q Their
land
will
be
a
place
were
there
are
nettles
and
salt
pits;
\par }{\QB it
will
be
ruined
forever.
\par }{\Q My Israeli
people
who
survive
will
take
away
all
their
valuable
possessions
\par }{\QB and
{\ADD{
also}}
occupy
their
land.”
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{10}The
people
of
Moab
and
Ammon
will
get
what
they
deserve
for
being
proud,
\par }{\QB because
they
made fun
of
the
people
who
belong
to
the
Commander
of
the
armies
of
angels.
\par }{\Q \VS{11}Yahweh
will
cause
them
to
be
terrified
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
when}}
he
destroys
all
the
gods
of
their
countries.
\par }{\Q Then
{\ADD{
even
the
people
who
live
on}}
islands
throughout
the
world
will
worship
Yahweh,
\par }{\QB each
in
their
own
countries.
\par }{\SH Yahweh
will
punish
Ethiopia
\par }{\Q \VS{12}{\ADD{
Yahweh
says
that}}
he
will
also
slaughter
the
people
of
Ethiopia.
\par }{\SH Yahweh
will
punish
Assyria
\par }{\Q \VS{13}Yahweh
will
punish [IDM]
and
destroy
Assyria,
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
that
land}} northeast
of
us.
\par }{\Q He
will
cause
{\ADD{
its
capital}}
Nineveh
to
become
ruined
and
deserted,
\par }{\QB a
place
that
will
be
as
dry
as
the
desert.
\par }{\Q \VS{14}{\ADD{
Flocks
of
sheep
and}}
herds
{\ADD{
of
cattle}}
and
many
kinds
of
wild
animals
will
lie
down
there.
\par }{\QB Owls
and crows
will
sit
on
the
columns/pillars
{\ADD{
of
the
destroyed
buildings}},
\par }{\Q and
they
will ◄hoot/cry
out►
through
the
windows.
\par }{\Q There
will
be
rubble
in
the
doorways,
\par }{\QB and
the
{\ADD{
valuable}}
cedar
boards
will
be
taken
{\ADD{
from
the
ruined
houses}}.
\par }{\Q \VS{15}{\ADD{
The
people
of}}
Nineveh
were
{\ADD{
previously}}
happy
and
proud,
\par }{\QB thinking
that
they
were
very
safe.
\par }{\Q They
were
{\ADD{
always}}
saying,
\par }{\Q “Our
city
is
the
greatest
city;
\par }{\QB there
is
no
city
as
great
as
ours!”
\par }{\Q But
now
it
will
become
a
ruins,
\par }{\QB a
place
where
wild
animals
make
their
dens.
\par }{\Q And
everyone
who
passes
by
there
will
hiss
{\ADD{
and
scorn/ridicule
that
city}},
\par }{\QB and
shake
their
fists
{\ADD{
to
show
that
they
detest
that
city
very
much}}.

\par }\Chap{3}{\SH Yahweh will some day restore Jerusalem, whose people have rebelled against him
\par }{\Q \VerseOne{1}Terrible
things
will
{\ADD{
also}}
happen
{\ADD{
to
Jerusalem}},
\par }{\QB that
city
whose
people
have
rebelled
{\ADD{
against
Yahweh}}
\par }{\Q and
who
have
become
unacceptable
to
him
{\ADD{
because
of
the
sins
that
they
have
committed}}.
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
They
act
violently
toward
others}}
and
they ◄oppress/treat
cruelly►
{\ADD{
other
people}}.
\par }{\Q \VS{2}{\ADD{
The
people
there}}
do
not
pay
attention
to
people
who
tell
them
{\ADD{
the
wrong
things
that
they
are
doing}}
\par }{\QB and
{\ADD{
try
to}} ◄correct
them/cause
them
to
quit
doing
those
things►.
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
The
people
in
Jerusalem}}
do
not
trust
in
Yahweh
\par }{\QB or
draw
near
to
ask
help
from
their
God.
\par }{\Q \VS{3}Their
leaders
are
{\ADD{
like}} [MET]
roaring
lions;
\par }{\QB they
are
{\ADD{
like}} [MET]
wolves
that
{\ADD{
attack
other
animals}}
during
the
evening,
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
and
eat
everything
that
they
kill}},
\par }{\QB with
the
result
that
the
next
morning
there
is
nothing
left
{\ADD{
of
those
animals
to
eat}}.
\par }{\Q \VS{4}The
prophets
in
Jerusalem
are
proud,
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
and
they
give
messages
that
are}}
not
to
be
trusted.
\par }{\Q Their
priests
cause
the
temple
to
be
unholy
\par }{\QB by
doing
things
that
are
opposed
to
the
laws
{\ADD{
of
Moses}}.
\par }{\Q \VS{5}But
Yahweh
is
{\ADD{
also}}
in
the
city;
\par }{\QB and
he
never
does
what
is
wrong.
\par }{\Q He
treats
people
justly/fairly;
\par }{\QB he
does
that
every
day,
\par }{\QB but
wicked
people
are
never
ashamed
{\ADD{
about
their
doing
what
is
wrong}}.
\par }{\PP \VS{6}{\ADD{
Yahweh
says
this}}:
\par }{\Q “I
have
destroyed
{\ADD{
many}}
nations;
\par }{\QB I
have
destroyed
their
strong/high
city
walls
and
towers.
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
Now}}
I
have
caused
the
streets
in
those
cities
to
be
completely
deserted [DOU];
\par }{\QB the
cities
are
ruined.
\par }{\Q There
are
no
people
{\ADD{
still
alive}}
in
the
cities;
\par }{\QB they
are
all
dead [LIT].
\par }{\Q \VS{7}{\ADD{
So}}
I
thought
{\ADD{
to
myself}},
\par }{\QB ‘{\ADD{
Because
of
what
I
have
done
to
those
other
nations}},
\par }{\QB surely
the
people
{\ADD{
of
Jerusalem}}
will
revere
me
{\ADD{
now}},
\par }{\QB and
they
will
accept ◄my correcting
them/my
telling
them
to
quit
doing
what
is
wrong►.
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
If
they
do
that,
I}}
will
not
destroy
their
houses;
\par }{\QB I
will
not
punish
them
like
I
said
that
I
would
do.’
\par }{\Q But
{\ADD{
in
spite
of
knowing
how
I
punished
those
other
nations}},
\par }{\QB they
were
still
eager
to
get
up
early
each
morning
\par }{\QB and
continue
to
do
evil
things.
\par }{\Q \VS{8}Therefore
I,
Yahweh,
say,
\par }{\QB ‘Wait
for
the
day
in
which
I
will
testify
{\ADD{
in
court
about
your
evil
things}}.’
\par }{\Q I
have
decided
to
gather
the
people
of
the
kingdoms
{\ADD{
of
the
earth}} [DOU]
\par }{\QB and
cause
them
to
know
that
I
am
very
angry
with
them.
\par }{\Q All
{\ADD{
over}}
the
earth
I
will
punish
and
destroy
people;
\par }{\QB my
being
angry
with
them
because
I ◄am
jealous/want
people
to
worship
no
other
god►
is
{\ADD{
like}} [MET]
a ◄raging/very
hot►
fire.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{9}When
that
happens,
I
will
cause
{\ADD{
all}}
people [MTY]
to
be
changed
\par }{\QB and
enable
them
to
speak
{\ADD{
only}}
what
is ◄pure/pleasing
to
me►,
\par }{\QB in
order
that
everyone
can
worship
me [MTY]
\par }{\QB and unitedly/together
serve
me [MTY].
\par }{\Q \VS{10}{\ADD{
Then}}
my
people
who
{\ADD{
were
forced
to
go
to
other
countries}},
those
who
live
along
the
upper
part
of
the
{\ADD{
Nile}}
River
in
Ethiopia
\par }{\QB will
come
to
me
and
bring
offerings
to
me.
\par }{\Q \VS{11}At
that
time,
you
{\ADD{
people
in
Jerusalem}}
will
no
{\ADD{
longer}}
be
ashamed
{\ADD{
about
what
has
happened
to
you}},
\par }{\QB because
you
no
longer
will
be
rebelling
against
me.
\par }{\Q I
will
get
rid
of
all
the
people
among
you
who
are
very
proud [DOU].
\par }{\QB No
one
on
{\ADD{
Zion}},
my
holy
hill,
will
{\ADD{
strut
around}}
proudly.
\par }{\Q \VS{12}Those
who
are
still
alive
in
Israel
will
be
poor
and
humble;
\par }{\QB they
will
be
people
who
trust
in
me [MTY].
\par }{\Q \VS{13}Those
people
who
are
still
alive
{\ADD{
there}}
in
Israel
will
not
do
{\ADD{
things
that
are}}
wrong;
\par }{\QB they
will
not
tell
lies
or
deceive [MTY]
people.
\par }{\Q They
will
eat
and
sleep
{\ADD{
safely}},
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
because}}
no
one
will
cause
them
to
be
afraid.”
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{14}You
people
who
live
in
Jerusalem [DOU]
and
{\ADD{
other
places
in}}
Israel,
\par }{\QB sing
and
shout
loudly!
\par }{\Q Be
glad,
and
rejoice [DOU]
greatly,
\par }{\Q \VS{15}{\ADD{
because}}
Yahweh
will
stop
punishing [MTY]
you,
\par }{\QB and
he
will
send
away
from
you
{\ADD{
the
armies
of}}
your
enemies!
\par }{\Q And
Yahweh
{\ADD{
himself}},
the
king
of
{\ADD{
us}} Israeli
people,
will
live
among
us,
\par }{\QB and
never
again
will
we
be
afraid
that
{\ADD{
others
will}}
harm
us.
\par }{\Q \VS{16}At
that
time,
{\ADD{
other
people}}
will
say
to
us
people
of
Jerusalem,
\par }{\QB “{\ADD{
You
people
of}} [APO]
Jerusalem,
do
not
be
afraid;
\par }{\QB do
not
become
afraid
or
discouraged,
\par }{\Q \VS{17}{\ADD{
because}}
Yahweh
your
God
is
{\ADD{
living}}
among
you.
\par }{\QB He
is
mighty,
and
he
will
rescue/save
you.
\par }{\Q He
will
be
very
happy
with
you;
\par }{\QB because
he
loves
you,
he
will
cause
you
to
not
be
afraid;
\par }{\QB he
will
sing
loudly
to
rejoice
over
you.”
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{18}{\ADD{
Yahweh
says,}} “You
people
were
sad
and
ashamed
\par }{\QB because
{\ADD{
you
were
unable
to
attend}}
your religious
festivals;
\par }{\QB but
I
will
cause
you
to
no
longer
be
disgraced.
\par }{\Q \VS{19}Truly,
I
will
{\ADD{
severely}}
punish
all
those
who ◄oppressed
you/caused
you
to
suffer►.
\par }{\Q I
will
rescue
those
who
are
helpless
\par }{\QB and
those
who
were
forced
to
go
to
other
countries.
\par }{\Q I
will
enable
them
to
be
praised
and
honored
in
every
country
to
which
they
were ◄exiled/forced
to
go►,
\par }{\QB places
where
they
were
disgraced.
\par }{\Q \VS{20}At
that
time,
I
will
gather
you
together
\par }{\QB and
bring
you
{\ADD{
back}}
home
{\ADD{
to
Israel}}.
\par }{\Q I
will
cause
you
to ◄have
a
good
reputation/be
honored►
and
be
{\ADD{
greatly}}
praised
\par }{\QB among
all
the
nations
of
the
earth.
\par }{\Q You [MTY]
will
see
me
causing
you
to
prosper
again.
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
That
will
surely
happen
because
I,}}
Yahweh,
have
said
it.”
\par }