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Zephaniah 3 :: New English Translation (NET)

Zep 3:1The filthy, stained city is as good as dead; the city filled with oppressors is finished!
Zep 3:2She is disobedient; she refuses correction. She does not trust the LORD; she does not seek the advice of her God.
Zep 3:3Her princes are as fierce as roaring lions; her rulers are as hungry as wolves in the desert, who completely devour their prey by morning.
Zep 3:4Her prophets are proud; they are deceitful men. Her priests defile what is holy; they break God's laws.
Zep 3:5The just LORD resides within her; he commits no unjust acts. Every morning he reveals his justice. At dawn he appears without fail. Yet the unjust know no shame.
Zep 3:6"I destroyed nations; their walled cities are in ruins. I turned their streets into ruins; no one passes through them. Their cities are desolate; no one lives there.
Zep 3:7I thought, 'Certainly you will respect me! Now you will accept correction!' If she had done so, her home would not be destroyed by all the punishments I have threatened. But they eagerly sinned in everything they did.
Zep 3:8Therefore you must wait patiently for me," says the LORD, "for the day when I attack and take plunder. I have decided to gather nations together and assemble kingdoms, so I can pour out my fury on them - all my raging anger. For the whole earth will be consumed by my fiery anger.
Zep 3:9Know for sure that I will then enable the nations to give me acceptable praise. All of them will invoke the LORD's name when they pray, and will worship him in unison.
Zep 3:10From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia, those who pray to me will bring me tribute.
Zep 3:11In that day you will not be ashamed of all your rebelliousness against me, for then I will remove from your midst those who proudly boast, and you will never again be arrogant on my holy hill.

A Remnant of Israel

Zep 3:12I will leave in your midst a humble and meek group of people, and they will find safety in the LORD's presence.
Zep 3:13The Israelites who remain will not act deceitfully. They will not lie, and a deceitful tongue will not be found in their mouth. Indeed, they will graze peacefully like sheep and lie down; no one will terrify them."
Zep 3:14Shout for joy, Daughter Zion! Shout out, Israel! Be happy and boast with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem!
Zep 3:15The LORD has removed the judgment against you; he has turned back your enemy. Israel's king, the LORD, is in your midst! You no longer need to fear disaster.
Zep 3:16On that day they will say to Jerusalem, "Don't be afraid, Zion! Your hands must not be paralyzed from panic!
Zep 3:17The LORD your God is in your midst; he is a warrior who can deliver. He takes great delight in you; he renews you by his love; he shouts for joy over you."
Zep 3:18"As for those who grieve because they cannot attend the festivals - I took them away from you; they became tribute and were a source of shame to you.
Zep 3:19Look, at that time I will deal with those who mistreated you. I will rescue the lame sheep and gather together the scattered sheep. I will take away their humiliation and make the whole earth admire and respect them.
Zep 3:20At that time I will lead you - at the time I gather you together. Be sure of this! I will make all the nations of the earth respect and admire you when you see me restore you," says the LORD.
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Pericope

Pericope taken from the NASB95 and has been graciously provided by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved.

New American Standard Bible
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Zephaniah Chapter 3 — Additional Translations: