Zephaniah 3

Zephaniah 3:1

Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city!

Woe to Jerusalem, which is filthy and polluted with abominable wickedness! Woe to the cruel and oppressing city, Jerusalem!

Zephaniah 3:3

Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow.

Her princes are fierce and cruel, like roaring lions: her judges are covetous and greedy, like the hungry wolves, which range forth in the evening; which, when they find a prey, devour it at once, and stay not to gnaw upon the bones, but swallow them down hastily.

Zephaniah 3:4

They have done violence to the law.

They have violently strained the law of God to their own senses, and to the favour of their wicked practices.

Zephaniah 3:5

The just LORD is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth not shame.

The holy and just God is in the midst of her; both to observe her carriage, and to instruct her in the ways of his laws, and to punish her sinful failings; and doth and will proceed accordingly: he will not be unjust in the forbearing her; but doth every day shew some judgment or other upon her wicked inhabitants: he faileth not, thus to correct and warn her; but the unjust are not sensible of any shame or danger that is towards them.

Zephaniah 3:6

I have cut off the nations.

I have given them sufficient warning by those judgments, which I have brought upon the nations about them.

Zephaniah 3:7

I said, Surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive instruction; so their dwelling should not be cut off, howsoever I punished them: but they rose early, and corrupted all their doings.

I said of thee, O Jerusalem, Surely thou wilt be premonished by my judgments, to fear me; thou wilt receive good counsel and instruction, that so I might turn away my threatened destruction from thee, howsoever I might afflict thee for a time; but they, contrarily, gave themselves to an eager and wilful pursuit of their sins, and have shamefully corrupted all their doings.

Zephaniah 3:8

Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger.

Therefore, since both the nations and ye are so unreclaimably sinful, make account of a heavy day, wherein I will rise up to execute my vengeance upon you and them: for my determination is, to gather the nations, and assemble the kingdoms, that I may enwrap them in one common destruction.

Zephaniah 3:9

For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD.

After which, I will restore peace to my people; and will so work with them, that, abandoning all false worship and idolatry, they shall, with pure hearts and lips, confess me their Lord Christ.

Zephaniah 3:10

From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering.

From the remotest parts of the world shall suppliants be gathered into my Church: both Jews and Gentiles shall bring offerings unto me, and subject themselves to my Gospel.

Zephaniah 3:11

In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain.

In that day thou shalt have no cause to be ashamed of all thy former offences, wherein thou hast transgressed against me; since both I have fully forgiven them, and reformed them also: for then I will take away from thee that vain pride and confidence, which too many of my people put in the holiness of mount Zion, and the temple there: as if that alone could secure them from all evils, and procure all blessings.

Zephaniah 3:12

I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD.

Rather, in the stead of these proud boasters, I will leave in the midst of thee those meek and humble souls, which shall be vile in their own eyes, and shall place all their trust in Christ their Saviour.

Zephaniah 3:13

The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.

And those selected people, which shall give up their names to me in my Church, shall make due conscience of their ways; not daring, either to do wickedly, or speak deceitfully: for they shall be under the leading of a faithful shepherd: under whose power and mercy they shall feed safely and quietly, and none shall make them afraid.

Zephaniah 3:14

Sing, O daughter of Zion.

Sing praises therefore unto the Lord, O thou Church of the faithful.