Zephaniah 3

1 Woe [a cry of sorrow, oh no] to the city [a place of excitement, community] of oppressors [those who treat others violently, with injustice], rebellious [filthy, polluted] and defiled [made unclean, impure, unfit for God’s presence]! word study 2 She heeded [obeyed not, gave no attention to] no voice [sound, utterance]; she accepted [received not, had no use for] no correction [discipline, instruction]. She does not trust [have faith, believe] in the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God]; she has not drawn [come, approached] near to her God [Elohim, the supreme deity]. word study 3 Her princes [rulers, leaders] are roaring [like fierce conquerors] lions; her judges [those who govern, vindicate] are evening [sunset, twilight] wolves, leaving [not reserving, gnawing] nothing for the morning [the break of day, a new beginning]. word study 4 Her prophets [light, treacherous persons] are reckless [be reckless, acting without thinking], faithless men [men of treachery, without faith]. Her priests [serving God, leading in worship] profane [to bore, begin, or start something new, breaking a rule] the sanctuary [Holy Place, a sacred or set-apart area]; they do violence [to injure, harm] to the law [instruction, guiding principles, the Ten Commandments]. word study 5 The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] within her is righteous [just, having God’s nature]; He does no wrong [iniquity, moral evil]. He applies His justice [judgment] morning by morning [every day, at dawn]; He does not fail [lack, be missing] at dawn, yet the unjust [morally evil, wicked] know no shame [guilt, embarrassment]. word study 6 “I have cut off [destroyed, made a covenant with] the nations [Gentiles, non-Hebrew peoples]; their corner [chief, pinnacle] towers are destroyed [desolate, laid waste]. I have made their streets [outdoor places, highways] deserted [empty, without inhabitants] with no one to pass through [cross over, transition]. Their cities [towns, populated areas] are laid waste [destroyed, ruined], with no man [male person, individual], no inhabitant [dweller, resident]. word study 7 I said, ‘Surely [certainly, without a doubt] you will fear [revere, stand in awe of] Me and accept [receive, take to heart] correction [discipline, guidance].’ Then her dwelling place [habitation, home] would not be cut off [destroyed, severed] despite all [everything, every circumstance] for which I punished [visited, reckoned with] her. But they rose early [at dawn, with eagerness] to corrupt [ruin, destroy] all [every, each] their deeds [actions, works]. word study 8 Therefore wait for Me [in patient expectation],” declares the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God], “until the day I rise [to give evidence] to testify. For My decision [My judgment, My purpose] is to gather [to assemble, to collect] nations, to assemble [to bring together] kingdoms, to pour out [to shed, to unleash] upon them My indignation [My fierce anger, My wrath]— all [everything, the entirety] My burning anger [My fierce wrath, My intense displeasure]. For all [the whole, every part] the earth [the land, the world] will be consumed [devoured, destroyed] by the fire [the refining flame, the passionate zeal] of My jealousy [My passionate love, My protective care]. word study 9 For then [at that time, in the future] I will restore [turn back, give back] pure [clean, undefiled] lips [language, speech] to the peoples [nations, Gentiles], that all [every single one] may call [cry out, invoke] upon the name [reputation, character] of the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] and serve [worship, obey] Him [with reverence and humility] shoulder to shoulder [united, in harmony]. word study 10 From beyond [across, on the other side of] the rivers [a flood] of Cush [Ethiopia, the region south of Egypt] My worshipers [suppliants, those who bring a pleasant smell like incense], My scattered [dispersed, shattered] people, will bring [conduct, lead with grandeur] Me an offering [a gift, a sacrifice, a donation to God]. word study 11 On that day [when God’s plan is fulfilled] you will not be put to shame [or disappointed, humiliated] for any of the deeds [or actions, wantonness] by which you have transgressed [or rebelled, broken away] against Me. For then I will remove [or take away, turn aside] from among you those who rejoice [or exult, feel jubilant] in their pride [or haughtiness, arrogance], and you will never again be haughty [or lifted up, exulting] on My holy mountain [or sacred hill, place of sanctity]. word study 12 But I will leave [spare, reserve] within you a meek [afflicted, humble] and humble [poor, weak] people, and they will trust [seek refuge, have faith] in the name [reputation, character] of the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God]. word study 13 The remnant [what is left after destruction, surviving group] of Israel [descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people] will no longer do wrong [iniquity, moral evil] or speak lies [falsehoods, deceit], nor will a deceitful [treacherous, fraudulent] tongue be found in their mouths [lips, speech]. But they will feed [tend, care for] and lie down [rest, stretch out], with no one to make them tremble [fear, be anxious].” word study 14 Sing [cry aloud, shout] for joy, O Daughter [female child, city personified] of Zion [mountain in Jerusalem, city of God]; shout [make a loud noise, joyful sound] aloud, O Israel [symbolic name of Jacob, descendants]! Be glad [rejoice, happy] and rejoice [exult, triumph] with all [everything, whole] your heart [feelings, will, intellect], O Daughter [female child, city personified] of Jerusalem [city of peace, capital of Palestine]! word study 15 The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] has taken away [removed, turned aside] your punishment [judgments, justice]; He has turned back [faced, cast out] your enemy [adversary, one who hates]. Israel’s King [the ruler of God’s people], the LORD [the supreme God], is among [in the midst of] you; no longer [not any more] will you fear [be afraid, revere] any harm [evil, bad things]. word study 16 On that day [in the future, at a specific time] they will say to Jerusalem [the city of peace, Zion’s capital]: “Do not [never, under no circumstances] fear [be afraid, dread], O Zion [the mountain, God’s holy city]; do not [refrain from, stop] let your hands [your strength, power] fall limp [become weak, slacken, lose courage]. word study 17 The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] your God [Elohim, the one supreme God] is among you [in the midst of thee, as a strong presence]; He is mighty [a strong or mighty warrior] to save [to deliver, rescue]. He will rejoice [feel joyful, cheerful] over you with gladness [joy, celebration]; He will quiet [be silent, still] you with His love [affection, tender care]; He will rejoice [be glad, joyful] over you with singing [a loud, ringing cry, joyful praise].” word study 18 “I will gather [collect, bring together] those among you who grieve [sorrow, mourn] over the appointed feasts [solemn assemblies, sacred seasons], so that you will no longer suffer [endure, be afflicted with] reproach [shame, disgrace]. word study 19 Behold [look, see], at that time [when, in the future], I will deal with [punish, judge] all who afflict [oppress, trouble] you. I will save [rescue, deliver] the lame [halt, crippled] and gather [collect, assemble] the scattered [banished, driven away]; and I will appoint [set, establish] praise [adoration, worship] and fame [honor, recognition] for the disgraced [shamed, humiliated] throughout the earth [land, world, all nations]. word study 20 At that time [in the future, when I assemble you] I will bring you in; yes, at that time [the appointed moment] I will gather you [collect and unite you]. For I will give you fame [a good reputation, honor] and praise [thanksgiving, adoration] among all the peoples [nations, Gentiles] of the earth [the land, the world] when I restore [return, bring back] your captives [prisoners, exiles] before your very eyes [in your sight, visibly],” says the LORD [Yehovah, the divine Redeemer]. word study