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Zephaniah 3

English Standard Version (ESV)

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1 Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled, ⓐthe oppressing city!
2 She listens to no voice; ⓑ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 judges areⓔ evening wolves that leave nothing till the morning.
4 ⓕ Her prophets are fickle, treacherous men; ⓖher priestsⓗ profane what is holy; they do violence to the law.
5 The LORD within herⓘ is righteous; he does no injustice; every morning he shows forth his justice; each dawn he does not fail; butⓙ the unjust knows no shame.
6 ⓚ “I have cut off nations; their battlements are in ruins; I have laid waste their streets ⓛso that no one walks in them; their cities have been made desolate, without a man, without an inhabitant.
7 ⓜ I said, ‘Surely you will fear me; ⓝyou will accept correction. Then your[1] dwelling would not be cut off according to all that I have appointed against you.’[2] Butⓞ all the more they were eager to make all their deeds corrupt.
8 “Thereforeⓟ wait for me,” declares the LORD, “for the day when I rise up to seize the prey. For my decision isⓠ to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out upon them my indignation, all my burning anger; for in the fire of my jealousy ⓡall the earth shall be consumed.
9 “For at that time I will change the speech of the peoples toⓢ a pure speech, that all of them may call upon the name of the LORD and serve him with one accord.
10 ⓣ From beyond the riversⓤ of Cush my worshipers, the daughter of my dispersed ones, shall bring my offering.
11 ⓥ “On that dayⓦ you shall not be put to shame because of the deeds by which you have rebelled against me; for thenⓧ I will remove from your midst your proudly exultant ones, andⓨ you shall no longer be haughty in my holy mountain.
12 But I will leave in your midst a peopleⓩ humble and lowly. ⓐThey shall seek refuge in the name of the LORD,
13 ⓑ those who are left in Israel; theyⓒ shall do no injustice and speak no lies, ⓓnor shall there be found in their mouth a deceitful tongue. ⓔFor they shall graze and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.”
14 ⓕ Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!
15 The LORD has taken away the judgments against you; he has cleared away your enemies. ⓖThe King of Israel,ⓗ the LORD, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil.
16 ⓘ On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Fear not, O Zion; ⓙlet not your hands grow weak.
17 ⓚ The LORD your God is in your midst, ⓛa mighty one who will save; ⓜhe will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.
18 I will gather those of you who mournⓝ for the festival, so that you will no longer suffer reproach.[3]
19 Behold, at that timeⓞ I will deal with all your oppressors. Andⓟ I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will changeⓠ their shame intoⓡ praise and renown in all the earth.
20 ⓢ At that time I will bring you in, at the time when I gather you together; for I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, ⓣwhen I restore your fortunes before your eyes,” says the LORD.