Zephaniah 3

Judgment on Jerusalem and the Nations 1Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled,
   the oppressing city! 2She listens to no voice;
   she accepts no correction.
She does not trust in the LORD;
   she does not draw near to her God.

3Her officials within her
   are roaring lions;
her judges are evening wolves
   that leave nothing till the morning. 4Her prophets are fickle, treacherous men;
her priests profane what is holy;
   they do violence to the law. 5The LORD within her is righteous;
   he does no injustice;
every morning he shows forth his justice;
   each dawn he does not fail;
   but the unjust knows no shame.

6"I have cut off nations;
   their battlements are in ruins;
I have laid waste their streets
   so that no one walks in them;
their cities have been made desolate,
   without a man, without an inhabitant. 7I said, 'Surely you will fear me;
   you will accept correction.
Then yourHebrew her dwelling would not be cut off
   according to all that I have appointed against you.'Hebrew her
But all the more they were eager
   to make all their deeds corrupt.

8Therefore wait for me," declares the LORD,
   "for the day when I rise up to seize the prey.
For my decision is to gather nations,
   to assemble kingdoms,
to pour out upon them my indignation,
   all my burning anger;
for in the fire of my jealousy
   all the earth shall be consumed.

The Conversion of the Nations 9For at that time I will change the speech of the peoples
   to a pure speech,
that all of them may call upon the name of the LORD
   and serve him with one accord. 10From beyond the rivers of Cush
   my worshipers, the daughter of my dispersed ones,
   shall bring my offering.

11On that day you shall not be put to shame
   because of the deeds by which you have rebelled against me;
for then I will remove from your midst
   your proudly exultant ones,
and you shall no longer be haughty
   in my holy mountain. 12But I will leave in your midst
   a people humble and lowly.
They shall seek refuge in the name of the LORD, 13   those who are left in Israel;
they shall do no injustice
   and speak no lies,
nor shall there be found in their mouth
   a deceitful tongue.
For they shall graze and lie down,
   and none shall make them afraid."

Israel's Joy and Restoration 14Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion;
   shout, O Israel!
Rejoice and exult 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, the LORD, is in your midst;
   you shall never again fear evil. 16On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
"Fear not, O Zion;
   let not your hands grow weak. 17The LORD your God is in your midst,
   a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
   he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing. 18I will gather those of you who mourn for the festival,
   so that you will no longer suffer reproach.The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain 19Behold, at that time I will deal
   with all your oppressors.
And I will save the lame
   and gather the outcast,
and I will change their shame into praise
   and renown in all the earth. 20At that time I will bring you in,
   at the time when I gather you together;
for I will make you renowned and praised
   among all the peoples of the earth,
when I restore your fortunes
   before your eyes," says the LORD.