The Day of the Lord Is Near

(A)Be silent before the Lord God!
    For (B)the day of the Lord is near;
(C)the Lord has prepared a sacrifice
    and (D)consecrated his guests.
And on the day of the Lord's sacrifice—
(E)“I will punish the officials and the king's sons
    and (F)all who array themselves in foreign attire.
On that day I will punish
    everyone (G)who leaps over the threshold,
and those who fill their master's[a] house
    with violence and fraud.

10 “On that day,” declares the Lord,
    “a cry will be heard from (H)the Fish Gate,
(I)a wail from (J)the Second Quarter,
    a loud crash from the hills.
11 (K)Wail, O inhabitants of the Mortar!
    For all the traders[b] are no more;
    all who weigh out silver are cut off.
12 At that time (L)I will search Jerusalem with lamps,
    and I will punish the men
(M)who are complacent,[c]
    (N)those who say in their hearts,
‘The Lord will not do good,
    nor will he do ill.’
13 Their goods shall be (O)plundered,
    and their houses laid waste.
(P)Though they build houses,
    they shall not inhabit them;
(Q)though they plant vineyards,
    they shall not drink wine from them.”

14 (R)The great day of the Lord is near,
    near and hastening fast;
the sound of the day of the Lord is bitter;
    (S)the mighty man cries aloud there.
15 (T)A day of wrath is that day,
    a day of distress and anguish,
a day of (U)ruin and devastation,
    (V)a day of darkness and gloom,
(W)a day of clouds and thick darkness,
16     (X)a day of trumpet blast and battle cry
(Y)against the fortified cities
    and against the lofty battlements.

17 (Z)I will bring distress on mankind,
    so that they shall walk (AA)like the blind,
    because they have sinned against the Lord;
(AB)their blood shall be poured out like dust,
    and their flesh (AC)like dung.
18 (AD)Neither their silver nor their gold
    shall be able to deliver them
    on the day of the wrath of the Lord.
(AE)In the fire of his jealousy,
    (AF)all the earth shall be consumed;
(AG)for a full and sudden end
    he will make of all the inhabitants of the earth.

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Footnotes

  1. Zephaniah 1:9 Or their Lord's
  2. Zephaniah 1:11 Or all the people of Canaan
  3. Zephaniah 1:12 Hebrew are thickening on the dregs [of their wine]

Israel's Joy and Restoration

14 (A)Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion;
    shout, O Israel!
Rejoice and exult with all your heart,
    O daughter of Jerusalem!
15 The Lord has taken away the judgments against you;
    he has cleared away your enemies.
(B)The King of Israel, (C)the Lord, is in your midst;
    you shall never again fear evil.
16 (D)On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
“Fear not, O Zion;
    (E)let not your hands grow weak.
17 (F)The Lord your God is in your midst,
    (G)a mighty one who will save;
(H)he will rejoice over you with gladness;
    he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.

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