Zephaniah 1:1-12

1The word of the LORD that came to Zephaniah son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, during the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah:

Judgment on the Whole Earth in the Day of the LORD 2“I will sweep away everything from the face of the earth,” declares the LORD .

3“I will sweep away both man and beast; I will sweep away the birds in the sky and the fish in the sea— and the idols that cause the wicked to stumble.” The meaning of the Hebrew for this line is uncertain. “When I destroy all mankind on the face of the earth,” declares the LORD,

4“I will stretch out my hand against Judah and against all who live in Jerusalem. I will destroy every remnant of Baal worship in this place, the very names of the idolatrous priests—

5those who bow down on the roofs to worship the starry host, those who bow down and swear by the LORD and who also swear by Molek, Hebrew Malkam

6those who turn back from following the LORD and neither seek the LORD nor inquire of him.”

7Be silent before the Sovereign LORD, for the day of the LORD is near. The LORD has prepared a sacrifice; he has consecrated those he has invited.

8“On the day of the LORD ’s sacrifice I will punish the officials and the king’s sons and all those clad in foreign clothes.

9On that day I will punish all who avoid stepping on the threshold, See 1 Samuel 5:5. who fill the temple of their gods with violence and deceit.

10“On that day,” declares the LORD, “a cry will go up from the Fish Gate, wailing from the New Quarter, and a loud crash from the hills.

11Wail, you who live in the market district Or the Mortar ; all your merchants will be wiped out, all who trade with Or in silver will be destroyed.

12At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish those who are complacent, who are like wine left on its dregs, who think, ‘The LORD will do nothing, either good or bad.’