Zephaniah, 3
1. Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city!
1. Woe to the rebellious, the defiled, the city that oppresses.
2. She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the LORD; she drew not near to her God.
2. She did not pay attention to the call nor accept the correction; she did not trust Yahweh nor did she approach her God.
3. Her princes within her [are] roaring lions; her judges [are] evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow.
3. Her kings are like roaring lions, her rulers like evening wolves that do not leave even a bone for the next day.
4. Her prophets [are] light [and] treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.
4. Her prophets are blabbermouths and treacherous people; her priests defile whatever is sacred with no respect for the Law.
5. The just LORD [is] in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame.
5. However, Yahweh the Just one is in her midst; he never commits injustice. Every morning he says what must be done; but the unjust do not even feel ashamed.
6. I have cut off the nations: their towers are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none passeth by: their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, that there is none inhabitant.
6. I have wiped out the nations, demolished their watchtowers, left their streets abandoned, and no one walks in them; their cities have been leveled, and no one lives there.
7. I said, Surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive instruction; so their dwelling should not be cut off, howsoever I punished them: but they rose early, [and] corrupted all their doings.
7. I thought: "If you took into account my correction" I said: "she will not forget my threats." But you were eager to behave still more corruptly.
8. Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination [is] to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, [even] all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.
8. Therefore, wait for me, says Yahweh, for the day when I come to accuse, when I have the nations gathered and the kingdoms assembled to vent my wrath on you with all the fury of my anger. Then the fire of my jealous wrath will burn the whole land.
9. For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent.
9. At that time I will give truthful lips to the pagan nations that all of them may call on the name of Yahweh and serve him with the same zeal.
10. From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, [even] the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering.
10. From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia they will bring offerings to me.
11. In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain.
11. On that day you will no longer be ashamed of all your deeds when you were unfaithful to me; I will have removed from your midst the conceited and arrogant and my holy mountain will no longer be for you a pretext for boasting.
12. I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD.
12. I will leave within you a poor and meek people who seek refuge in God.
13. The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make [them] afraid.
13. The remnant of Israel will not act unjustly nor will they speak falsely, nor will deceitful words be found in their mouths. They will eat and rest with none to threaten them.
14. Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.
14. Cry out with joy, O daughter of Zion; rejoice, O people of Israel! Sing joyfully with all your heart, daughter of Jerusalem!
15. The LORD hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, [even] the LORD, [is] in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more.
15. Yahweh has lifted your sentence and has driven your enemies away. Yahweh, the King of Israel is with you; do not fear any misfortune.
16. In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: [and to] Zion, Let not thine hands be slack.
16. On that day they will say to Jerusalem: Do not be afraid nor let your hands tremble,
17. The LORD thy God in the midst of thee [is] mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.
17. for Yahweh your God is within you, Yahweh, saving warrior. He will jump for joy on seeing you, for he has revived his love. For you he will cry out with joy, as you do in the days of the Feast.
18. I will gather [them that are] sorrowful for the solemn assembly, [who] are of thee, [to whom] the reproach of it [was] a burden.
18. I will drive away the evil I warned you about, and you will no longer be shamed.
19. Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame.
19. On that day I will face your oppressors; I will save the lame sheep and bring the lost back into the fold. I will give them renown and honor in all the lands where humiliation was your lot.
20. At that time will I bring you [again], even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD.
20. On that day I will be good to you and gather you to make you famous and honorable among all the peoples of the earth, when I bring back the captives before your eyes, - this is Yahweh's word.
