Therefore wait(A) for me,”
    declares the Lord,
    “for the day I will stand up to testify.[a]
I have decided to assemble(B) the nations,(C)
    to gather the kingdoms
and to pour out my wrath(D) on them—
    all my fierce anger.(E)
The whole world will be consumed(F)
    by the fire of my jealous anger.

Restoration of Israel’s Remnant

“Then I will purify the lips of the peoples,
    that all of them may call(G) on the name of the Lord(H)
    and serve(I) him shoulder to shoulder.
10 From beyond the rivers of Cush[b](J)
    my worshipers, my scattered people,
    will bring me offerings.(K)
11 On that day you, Jerusalem, will not be put to shame(L)
    for all the wrongs you have done to me,(M)
because I will remove from you
    your arrogant boasters.(N)
Never again will you be haughty
    on my holy hill.(O)
12 But I will leave within you
    the meek(P) and humble.
The remnant of Israel
    will trust(Q) in the name of the Lord.
13 They(R) will do no wrong;(S)
    they will tell no lies.(T)
A deceitful tongue
    will not be found in their mouths.(U)
They will eat and lie down(V)
    and no one will make them afraid.(W)

14 Sing, Daughter Zion;(X)
    shout aloud,(Y) Israel!
Be glad and rejoice(Z) with all your heart,
    Daughter Jerusalem!
15 The Lord has taken away your punishment,
    he has turned back your enemy.
The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you;(AA)
    never again will you fear(AB) any harm.(AC)
16 On that day
    they will say to Jerusalem,
“Do not fear, Zion;
    do not let your hands hang limp.(AD)
17 The Lord your God is with you,
    the Mighty Warrior who saves.(AE)
He will take great delight(AF) in you;
    in his love he will no longer rebuke you,(AG)
    but will rejoice over you with singing.”(AH)

18 “I will remove from you
    all who mourn over the loss of your appointed festivals,
    which is a burden and reproach for you.
19 At that time I will deal
    with all who oppressed(AI) you.
I will rescue the lame;
    I will gather the exiles.(AJ)
I will give them praise(AK) and honor
    in every land where they have suffered shame.
20 At that time I will gather you;
    at that time I will bring(AL) you home.
I will give you honor(AM) and praise(AN)
    among all the peoples of the earth
when I restore your fortunes[c](AO)
    before your very eyes,”
says the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. Zephaniah 3:8 Septuagint and Syriac; Hebrew will rise up to plunder
  2. Zephaniah 3:10 That is, the upper Nile region
  3. Zephaniah 3:20 Or I bring back your captives

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: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.

For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent.

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

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.

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.

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.

14 Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.

15 The Lord hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the Lord, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more.

16 In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack.

17 The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

18 I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden.

19 Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame.

20 At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the Lord.

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A Faithful Remnant(A)

“Therefore (B)wait for Me,” says the Lord,
“Until the day I rise up [a]for plunder;
My determination is to (C)gather the nations
To My assembly of kingdoms,
To pour on them My indignation,
All My fierce anger;
All the earth (D)shall be devoured
With the fire of My jealousy.

“For then I will restore to the peoples (E)a pure [b]language,
That they all may call on the name of the Lord,
To serve Him with one accord.
10 (F)From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia
My worshipers,
The daughter of My dispersed ones,
Shall bring My offering.
11 In that day you shall not be shamed for any of your deeds
In which you transgress against Me;
For then I will take away from your midst
Those who (G)rejoice in your pride,
And you shall no longer be haughty
In My holy mountain.
12 I will leave in your midst
(H)A meek and humble people,
And they shall trust in the name of the Lord.
13 (I)The remnant of Israel (J)shall do no unrighteousness
(K)And speak no lies,
Nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth;
For (L)they shall feed their flocks and lie down,
And no one shall make them afraid.”

Joy in God’s Faithfulness

14 (M)Sing, O daughter of Zion!
Shout, O Israel!
Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,
O daughter of Jerusalem!
15 The Lord has taken away your judgments,
He has cast out your enemy.
(N)The King of Israel, the Lord, (O)is in your midst;
You shall [c]see disaster no more.

16 In that day (P)it shall be said to Jerusalem:
“Do not fear;
Zion, (Q)let not your hands be weak.
17 The Lord your God (R)in your midst,
The Mighty One, will save;
(S)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 who (T)sorrow over the appointed assembly,
Who are among you,
To whom its reproach is a burden.
19 Behold, at that time
I will deal with all who afflict you;
I will save the (U)lame,
And gather those who were driven out;
I will appoint them for praise and fame
In every land where they were put to shame.
20 At that time (V)I will bring you back,
Even at the time I gather you;
For I will give you [d]fame and praise
Among all the peoples of the earth,
When I return your captives before your eyes,”
Says the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. Zephaniah 3:8 LXX, Syr. for witness; Tg. for the day of My revelation for judgment; Vg. for the day of My resurrection that is to come
  2. Zephaniah 3:9 Lit. lip
  3. Zephaniah 3:15 So with Heb. mss., LXX, Bg.; MT, Vg. fear
  4. Zephaniah 3:20 Lit. a name