Zephaniah, 3

1. Woe to the city, rebellious and polluted, to the tyrannical city!

1. Disaster to the rebellious, the befouled, the tyrannical city!

2. She hears no voice, accepts no correction; In the LORD she has not trusted, to her God she has not drawn near.

2. She has not listened to the call, she has not bowed to correction, she has not trusted in Yahweh, she has not drawn near to her God.

3. Her princes in her midst are roaring lions; Her judges are wolves of the night that have had no bones to gnaw by morning.

3. The rulers she has are roaring lions, her judges are wolves of the wastelands which leave nothing over for the morning,

4. Her prophets are insolent, treacherous men; Her priests profane what is holy, and do violence to the law.

4. her prophets are braggarts, impostors, her priests have profaned what is holy and violated the Law.

5. The LORD within her is just, who does no wrong; Morning after morning he renders judgment unfailingly, at dawn.

5. Yahweh the Upright is in her, he does no wrong; morning by morning he gives judgement, each dawn unfailingly (but the wrong-doer knows no shame).

6. I have destroyed nations, their battlements are laid waste; I have made their streets deserted, with no one passing through; Their cities are devastated, with no man dwelling in them.

6. I have exterminated the nations, their corner-towers lie in ruins; I have emptied their streets, no one walks through them; their cities have been destroyed and are now deserted and unpeopled.

7. I said, "Surely now you will fear me, you will accept correction"; She should not fail to see all I have visited upon her. Yet all the more eagerly have they done all their corrupt deeds.

7. I thought, 'At least you will fear me, at least you will bow to correction,' and none of the punishments I brought on them will disappear from their view. But no, it only made them more anxious to do whatever was corrupt.

8. Therefore, wait for me, says the LORD, against the day when I arise as accuser; For it is my decision to gather together the nations, to assemble the kingdoms, In order to pour out upon them my wrath, all my blazing anger; For in the fire of my jealousy shall all the earth be consumed.

8. So wait for me -- declares Yahweh -- for the day when I rise as accuser, for I am determined to gather the nations, to assemble the kingdoms, and on you to vent my fury, the whole heat of my anger (for the whole earth will be devoured by the fire of my jealousy).

9. For then I will change and purify the lips of the peoples, That they all may call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one accord;

9. Yes, then I shall purge the lips of the peoples, so that all may invoke the name of Yahweh and serve him shoulder to shoulder.

10. From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia and as far as the recesses of the North, they shall bring me offerings.

10. From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia, my suppliants will bring me tribute.

11. On that day You need not be ashamed of all your deeds, your rebellious actions against me; For then will I remove from your midst the proud braggarts, And you shall no longer exalt yourself on my holy mountain.

11. When that Day comes you will never again be ashamed of all the deeds with which you once rebelled against me, for I shall rid you of those who exult in your pride; never again will you strut on my holy mountain.

12. But I will leave as a remnant in your midst a people humble and lowly, Who shall take refuge in the name of the LORD;

12. But in you I shall leave surviving a humble and lowly people,

13. the remnant of Israel. They shall do no wrong and speak no lies; Nor shall there be found in their mouths a deceitful tongue; They shall pasture and couch their flocks with none to disturb them.

13. and those who are left in Israel will take refuge in the name of Yahweh. They will do no wrong, will tell no lies; nor will a deceitful tongue be found in their mouths. But they will be able to graze and rest with no one to alarm them.

14. Shout for joy, O daughter Zion! sing joyfully, O Israel! Be glad and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem!

14. Shout for joy, daughter of Zion, Israel, shout aloud! Rejoice, exult with all your heart, daughter of Jerusalem!

15. The LORD has removed the judgment against you, he has turned away your enemies; The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst, you have no further misfortune to fear.

15. Yahweh has repealed your sentence; he has turned your enemy away. Yahweh is king among you, Israel, you have nothing more to fear.

16. On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem: Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged!

16. When that Day comes, the message for Jerusalem will be: Zion, have no fear, do not let your hands fall limp.

17. The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior; He will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love, He will sing joyfully because of you,

17. Yahweh your God is there with you, the warrior-Saviour. He will rejoice over you with happy song, he will renew you by his love, he will dance with shouts of joy for you,

18. as one sings at festivals. I will remove disaster from among you, so that none may recount your disgrace.

18. as on a day of festival. I have taken away your misfortune, no longer need you bear the disgrace of it.

19. Yes, at that time I will deal with all who oppress you; I will save the lame, and assemble the outcasts; I will give them praise and renown in all the earth, when I bring about their restoration.

19. I am taking action here and now against your oppressors. When that time comes I will rescue the lame, and gather the strays, and I will win them praise and renown when I restore their fortunes.

20. At that time I will bring you home, and at that time I will gather you; For I will give you renown and praise, among all the peoples of the earth, When I bring about your restoration before your very eyes, says the LORD.

20. At that time I shall be your guide, at the time when I gather you in, I shall give you praise and renown among all the peoples of the earth when I restore your fortunes under your own eyes, declares Yahweh.