Zephaniah 3

1 Oh renowned and ransomed city,

city of the dove!

2 She did not listen to the voice

or accept correction.

She did not trust in the Lord

or draw near to her God.

3 Her rulers within her are roaring lions;

her judges are wolves of Arabia

that leave nothing for morning.

4 Her prophets are spirit-bearing men who scorn others;

her priests treat holy things as common

and act ungodly toward the law.

5 But the Lord is righteous in her midst

and will never do wrong.

Morning by morning he brings his judgment into the light;

it is not hidden.

He has known no wrongdoing in demanding payment

and no wrongdoing in a dispute.

6 “I pulled down the proud in destruction,

and their corners disappeared.

I made their roads completely desolate,

so no one traveled them.

Their cities came to an end,

with no one left living there.

7 I said, ‘Surely you will revere me and accept correction,

and you will not be destroyed from before her eyes,

after everything I brought on her.’

Prepare yourself; rise early—

all their grape gleanings are spoiled.

8 Therefore wait for me,” says the Lord,

“until the day when I rise as a witness.

My judgment is to gather nations and receive kings,

to pour out on them all my fierce anger.

The whole earth will be consumed by the fire of my jealousy.

9 Then I will turn the peoples to a language for her generation,

so that all of them may call on the name of the Lord

and serve him under one yoke.

10 From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia

they will bring sacrifices to me.

11 On that day you will no longer be ashamed

of all the conduct by which you acted ungodly toward me,

because then I will remove your proud contempt from you,

and you will no longer boast on my holy mountain.

12 I will leave among you a gentle and humble people,

and they will stand in awe before the name of the Lord.

13 Those who remain of Israel will do no wrongdoing

and speak nothing empty.

No deceitful tongue will be found in their mouths,

because they will graze and lie down,

and no one will make them afraid.”

14 Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion!

Cry aloud, daughter of Jerusalem!

Rejoice and delight with your whole heart,

daughter of Jerusalem!

15 The Lord has removed your wrongdoings

and ransomed you from the hand of your enemies.

The Lord, the King of Israel, is in your midst;

you will see evil no more.

16 At that time the Lord will say to Jerusalem,

“Take courage, Zion; do not let your hands grow weak.

17 The Lord your God is within you;

the Mighty One will save you.

He will bring joy over you

and renew you in his love.

He will rejoice over you with delight

as on a feast day.

18 I will gather those who have been broken.

Alas—who has taken up a reproach against her?

19 Look, I will act among you for your sake at that time,” says the Lord.

“I will save the oppressed and receive the rejected.

I will make them a cause for praise

and renowned throughout the earth.

20 They will be ashamed at that time, when I do good to you,

and at the time when I receive you,

because I will make you renowned and a cause for praise

among all the peoples of the earth,

when I turn back your captivity before your eyes,” says the Lord.