CHAPTER 1
This is the word
of the LORD
that
came
to
Zephaniah
son
of Cushi,
the son
of Gedaliah,
the son
of Amariah,
the son
of Hezekiah,
in the days
of Josiah
son
of Amon
king
of Judah:
“I will sweep away
man
and beast;
I will sweep away
the birds
of the air,
and the fish
of the sea,
and the ruins
along with the wicked.
I will cut off
mankind
from
the face
of the earth,”
declares
the LORD.
“I will stretch out
My hand
against
Judah
and against
all
who dwell
in Jerusalem.
I will cut off
from
this
place
every remnant
of Baal,
the names
of the idolatrous
and
pagan priests—
those who bow
on
the rooftops
to worship the heavenly
host,
those who bow down
and swear
by the LORD
but also swear
by Molech,
Be silent
in the presence
of the Lord
GOD,
for
the Day
of the LORD
is near.
Indeed,
the LORD
has prepared
a sacrifice;
He has consecrated
His guests.
On the Day
of the LORD’s
sacrifice
I will punish
the princes,
the king’s
sons,
and all
who are dressed
in foreign
apparel.
On that
day
I will punish
all
who leap
over
the threshold,
who fill
the house
of their master
with violence
and deceit.
“On that
day,”
declares
the LORD,
“a cry
will go up
from
the Fish
Gate,
a wail
from the Second Quarter,
and a loud
crashing
from the hills.
Wail,
O dwellers
of the Hollow,
for
all
your merchants
will be silenced;
all
who weigh out
silver
will be cut off.
And
at that
time
I will search
Jerusalem
with lamps
and punish
the men
settled
in
complacency,
who say
to themselves,
‘The LORD
will do nothing,
either good
or ill.’
Their wealth
will be
plundered
and their houses
laid waste.
They will build
houses
but not
inhabit them,
and plant
vineyards
but never
drink
their wine.
The great
Day
of the LORD
is near—
near
and coming
quickly.
Listen,
the Day
of the LORD!
Then
the cry
of the mighty
will be bitter.
That
day will be
a day
of wrath,
a day
of trouble
and distress,
a day
of destruction
and desolation,
a day
of darkness
and gloom,
a day
of clouds
and blackness,
a day
of trumpet blast
and battle cry
against
the fortified
cities,
and against
the high
corner towers.
I will bring such distress
on mankind
that they will walk
like the blind,
because
they have sinned
against the LORD.
Their blood
will be poured out
like dust
and their flesh
like dung.
Neither their silver
nor
their gold
will be able
to deliver them
on the Day
of the LORD’s
wrath.
The whole
earth
will be consumed
by the fire
of His jealousy.”
For
indeed,
He will make
a sudden
end
of
all
the inhabitants
of the earth.