Zephaniah 3

Jerusalem

1 Woe to the city of oppressors, rebellious and defiled!
2 She obeys no one, she accepts no correction. She does not trust in the LORD, she does not draw near to her God.
3 Her officials within her are roaring lions; her rulers are evening wolves, who leave nothing for the morning.
4 Her prophets are unprincipled; they are treacherous people. Her priests profane the sanctuary and do violence to the law.
5 The LORD within her is righteous; he does no wrong. Morning by morning he dispenses his justice, and every new day he does not fail, yet the unrighteous know no shame.

Jerusalem Remains Unrepentant

6 “I have destroyed nations; their strongholds are demolished. I have left their streets deserted, with no one passing through. Their cities are laid waste; they are deserted and empty.
7 Of Jerusalem I thought, ‘Surely you will fear me and accept correction!’ Then her place of refuge[a] would not be destroyed, nor all my punishments come upon[b] her. But they were still eager to act corruptly in all they did.
8 Therefore wait for me,” declares the LORD, “for the day I will stand up to testify.[c]I have decided to assemble the nations, to gather the kingdoms and to pour out my wrath on them— all my fierce anger. The whole world will be consumed by the fire of my jealous anger.

Restoration of Israel’s Remnant

9 “Then I will purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the LORDand serve him shoulder to shoulder.
10 From beyond the rivers of Cush[d] my worshipers, my scattered people, will bring me offerings.
11 On that day you, Jerusalem, will not be put to shame for all the wrongs you have done to me, because I will remove from you your arrogant boasters. Never again will you be haughty on my holy hill.
12 But I will leave within you the meek and humble. The remnant of Israel will trust in the name of the LORD.
13 They will do no wrong; they will tell no lies. A deceitful tongue will not be found in their mouths. They will eat and lie down and no one will make them afraid.”
14 Sing, Daughter Zion; shout aloud, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem!
15 The LORD has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy. The LORD, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm.
16 On that day they will say to Jerusalem, “Do not fear, Zion; do not let your hands hang limp.
17 The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”
18 “I will remove from you all who mourn over the loss of your appointed festivals, which is a burden and reproach for you.
19 At that time I will deal with all who oppressed you. I will rescue the lame; I will gather the exiles. I will give them praise and honor in every land where they have suffered shame.
20 At that time I will gather you; at that time I will bring you home. I will give you honor and praise among all the peoples of the earth when I restore your fortunes[e]before your very eyes,” says the LORD..

Images for Zephaniah 3

Cross References 61

  • 1. S Jeremiah 6:6
  • 2. S Deuteronomy 21:18
  • 3. S Ezekiel 23:30
  • 4. S Jeremiah 22:21
  • 5. S Leviticus 26:23; S Jeremiah 7:28
  • 6. S Deuteronomy 1:32
  • 7. S Psalms 73:28; Jeremiah 5:3
  • 8. S Psalms 22:13
  • 9. S Genesis 49:27; Ezekiel 22:27
  • 10. S Micah 3:3
  • 11. S Psalms 25:3; S Isaiah 48:8; Jeremiah 3:20; Jeremiah 9:4; Malachi 2:10
  • 12. S Jeremiah 23:11; S Ezekiel 22:26
  • 13. S Ezra 9:15
  • 14. Deuteronomy 32:4
  • 15. S Psalms 5:3
  • 16. S Lamentations 3:23
  • 17. S Jeremiah 3:3; S Ezekiel 18:25
  • 18. S Leviticus 26:31
  • 19. S Jeremiah 7:28
  • 20. S Hosea 9:9
  • 21. S Psalms 27:14
  • 22. S Joel 3:11
  • 23. S Isaiah 2:3; Joel 3:2
  • 24. Psalms 79:6; Revelation 16:1
  • 25. S Jeremiah 10:25; S Lamentations 4:11
  • 26. S Zephaniah 1:18
  • 27. S Zephaniah 2:11
  • 28. S Genesis 4:26
  • 29. S Isaiah 19:18
  • 30. S Genesis 10:6; S Psalms 68:31
  • 31. S 2 Chronicles 32:23; S Isaiah 60:7
  • 32. S Isaiah 29:22; S Joel 2:26-27
  • 33. S Genesis 50:15
  • 34. S Psalms 59:12
  • 35. S Exodus 15:17; S Leviticus 26:19
  • 36. Isaiah 14:32
  • 37. S Jeremiah 29:12; Nahum 1:7
  • 38. S Isaiah 10:21; Micah 4:7
  • 39. Psalms 119:3; S Isaiah 4:3
  • 40. S Jeremiah 33:16; Revelation 14:5
  • 41. S Job 16:17
  • 42. Ezekiel 34:15; Zephaniah 2:7
  • 43. S Leviticus 26:6; S Ezekiel 34:25-28
  • 44. S Psalms 9:14; Zechariah 2:10
  • 45. S Psalms 95:1; Isaiah 12:6; Zechariah 2:10
  • 46. S Psalms 9:2; S Isaiah 51:11
  • 47. Ezekiel 37:26-28
  • 48. S Isaiah 54:14
  • 49. Zechariah 9:9
  • 50. S 2 Kings 19:26; S Job 4:3; Isaiah 35:3-4; Hebrews 12:12
  • 51. S Isaiah 63:1; S Joel 2:21
  • 52. S Deuteronomy 28:63; S Isaiah 62:4
  • 53. S Hosea 14:4
  • 54. S Isaiah 40:1
  • 55. S Isaiah 14:2
  • 56. S Ezekiel 34:16; S Micah 4:6
  • 57. Isaiah 60:18
  • 58. S Jeremiah 29:14; S Ezekiel 37:12
  • 59. Isaiah 56:5; Isaiah 66:22
  • 60. S Deuteronomy 26:19; S Isaiah 60:18
  • 61. S Joel 3:1

Footnotes 5

  • [a]. Or "her sanctuary"
  • [b]. Or "all those I appointed over"
  • [c]. Septuagint and Syriac; Hebrew "will rise up to plunder"
  • [d]. That is, the upper Nile region
  • [e]. Or "I bring back your captives"

Zephaniah 3 Commentaries

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