Zephaniah 3:1–8

Judgment on Jerusalem and the Nations

3 Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled,

fthe oppressing city!

2  She listens to no voice;

gshe accepts no correction.

hShe does not trust in the Lord;

she does not draw near to her God.

3  iHer officials within her

are roaring lions;

her judges are jevening wolves

that leave nothing till the morning.

4  kHer prophets are fickle, treacherous men;

kher priests lprofane what is holy;

they do violence to the law.

5  The Lord within her mis righteous;

he does no injustice;

every morning he shows forth his justice;

each dawn he does not fail;

but nthe unjust knows no shame.

6  o“I have cut off nations;

their battlements are in ruins;

I have laid waste their streets

pso that no one walks in them;

their cities have been made desolate,

without a man, without an inhabitant.

7  qI said, ‘Surely you will fear me;

ryou will accept correction.

Then your1 dwelling would not be cut off

according to all that I have appointed against you.’2

But sall the more they were eager

to make all their deeds corrupt.

8  “Therefore twait for me,” declares the Lord,

“for the day when I rise up to seize the prey.

For my decision is uto gather nations,

to assemble kingdoms,

to pour out upon them my indignation,

all my burning anger;

for in the fire of my jealousy

vall the earth shall be consumed.