Zephaniah 3 · Clearspring

Judgment on Jerusalem

¹Woe to the city of oppressors, rebellious and defiled!+ ²She heeded no voice; she accepted no correction. She does not trust in the LORD; she has not drawn near to her God.+ ³Her princes are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves, leaving nothing for the morning.+ ⁴Her prophets are reckless, faithless men. Her priests profane the sanctuary; they do violence to the law.+ ⁵The LORD within her is righteous; He does no wrong. He applies His justice morning by morning; He does not fail at dawn, yet the unjust know no shame.+

Purification of the Nations

⁶“I have cut off the nations; their corner towers are destroyed. I have made their streets deserted with no one to pass through. Their cities are laid waste, with no man, no inhabitant.+ ⁷I said, ‘Surely you will fear Me and accept correction.’ Then her dwelling place would not be cut off despite all for which I punished her. But they rose early to corrupt all their deeds.+ ⁸Therefore wait for Me,” declares the LORD, “until the day I rise to testify. For My decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out upon them My indignation — all My burning anger. For all the earth will be consumed by the fire of My jealousy.+

A Faithful Remnant

⁹For then I will restore pure lips to the peoples, that all may call upon the name of the LORD and serve Him shoulder to shoulder.+ ¹⁰From beyond the rivers of Cush My worshipers, My scattered people, will bring Me an offering.+ ¹¹On that day you will not be put to shame for any of the deeds by which you have transgressed against Me. For then I will remove from among you those who rejoice in their pride, and you will never again be haughty on My holy mountain.+ ¹²But I will leave within you a meek and humble people, and they will trust in the name of the LORD.+ ¹³The remnant of Israel will no longer do wrong or speak lies, nor will a deceitful tongue be found in their mouths. But they will feed and lie down, with no one to make them tremble.”+

Israel’s Restoration

¹⁴Sing for joy, O Daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O Daughter of Jerusalem!+ ¹⁵The LORD has taken away your punishment; He has turned back your enemy. Israel’s King, the LORD, is among you; no longer will you fear any harm.+ ¹⁶On that day they will say to Jerusalem: “Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands fall limp.+ ¹⁷The LORD your God is among you; He is mighty to save. He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you with His love; He will rejoice over you with singing.”+ ¹⁸“I will gather those among you who grieve over the appointed feasts, so that you will no longer suffer reproach.+ ¹⁹Behold, at that time, I will deal with all who afflict you. I will save the lame and gather the scattered; and I will appoint praise and fame for the disgraced throughout the earth.+ ²⁰At that time I will bring you in; yes, at that time I will gather you. For I will give you fame and praise among all the peoples of the earth when I restore your captives before your very eyes,” says the LORD.+

Judgment on Jerusalem

Purification of the Nations

A Faithful Remnant

Israel’s Restoration

Study Zephaniah 3