Jerusalem's Guilt, Purification, and Promised Restoration
Zephaniah 3:1-20
1Woe to the flapping and defiled city, the oppressive one.2She has not listened to a voice; she has not accepted discipline; she has not trusted in the LORD; she has not drawn near to her God.3Her rulers in her midst are roaring lions; her judges are wolves of the evening that leave nothing for the morning.4Her prophets are reckless, treacherous men; her priests have profaned holiness and done violence to instruction.5The LORD is righteous in her midst; he does no injustice; morning by morning he gives his justice to the light; he does not fail, yet the unjust knows no shame.6I have cut off nations; their corner towers are desolate; I have laid waste their streets so that no one passes; their cities are wasted so that there is no man, so that there is no inhabitant.7I said, 'Surely you will fear me; you will accept discipline, so that her habitation will not be cut off, according to all that I appointed against her'; yet they rose early and corrupted all their deeds.8Therefore wait for me, declares the LORD, for the day of my arising for prey; for my justice is to gather nations, to gather kingdoms, to pour out my indignation upon them—all the burning anger of my face; for in the fire of my jealousy all the land will be consumed.9For then I will overturn the peoples to a pure lip, that all of them may call on the name of the LORD, to serve him with one shoulder.10From beyond the rivers of Cush my worshipers, the daughter of my scattered ones, will bring my offering.11On that day you will not be ashamed because of all your wanton deeds by which you transgressed against me; for then I will remove from your midst your jubilant ones of pride, and you will not again exalt yourself on my holy mountain.12And I will leave in your midst a people afflicted and poor, and they will seek refuge in the name of the LORD.13The remnant of Israel will do no injustice and will speak no lie, and a deceitful tongue will not be found in their mouth; for they will pasture and lie down, and there will be none making them tremble.14Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; rejoice and exult with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.15The LORD has removed your judgments; he has turned aside your enemy; the king of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you will fear evil no more.16On that day it will be said to Jerusalem, 'Do not fear, O Zion; let not your hands slacken.'17The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who saves; he will rejoice over you with joy; he will be quiet in his love; he will exult over you with a cry.18I will gather those who mourn for the appointed feast from you; they were a burden upon her, a reproach.19Behold, I am dealing with all your oppressors at that time; and I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will set them for praise and for a name in all the earth—their shame.20At that time I will bring you in, and at the time when I gather you; for I will give you renown and praise among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes, says the LORD.