Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, lest my soul depart from thee; lest I make thee desolate, a land not inhabited.

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Take warning, Jerusalem,
    or I will turn away(A) from you
and make your land desolate
    so no one can live in it.”

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12 Though they bring up their children, yet will I bereave them, that there shall not be a man left: yea, woe also to them when I depart from them!

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12 Even if they rear children,
    I will bereave(A) them of every one.
Woe(B) to them
    when I turn away from them!(C)

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18 So she discovered her whoredoms, and discovered her nakedness: then my mind was alienated from her, like as my mind was alienated from her sister.

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18 When she carried on her prostitution openly and exposed her naked body,(A) I turned away(B) from her in disgust, just as I had turned away from her sister.(C)

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23 But they obeyed not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, nor receive instruction.

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23 Yet they did not listen or pay attention;(A) they were stiff-necked(B) and would not listen or respond to discipline.(C)

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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.

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Of Jerusalem I thought,
    ‘Surely you will fear me
    and accept correction!’(A)
Then her place of refuge[a] would not be destroyed,
    nor all my punishments come upon[b] her.
But they were still eager
    to act corruptly(B) in all they did.

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Footnotes

  1. Zephaniah 3:7 Or her sanctuary
  2. Zephaniah 3:7 Or all those I appointed over

13 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Go and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will ye not receive instruction to hearken to my words? saith the Lord.

14 The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, that he commanded his sons not to drink wine, are performed; for unto this day they drink none, but obey their father's commandment: notwithstanding I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye hearkened not unto me.

15 I have sent also unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them, and ye shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers: but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me.

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13 “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Go and tell(A) the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem, ‘Will you not learn a lesson(B) and obey my words?’ declares the Lord. 14 ‘Jehonadab son of Rekab ordered his descendants not to drink wine and this command has been kept. To this day they do not drink wine, because they obey their forefather’s command.(C) But I have spoken to you again and again,(D) yet you have not obeyed(E) me. 15 Again and again I sent all my servants the prophets(F) to you. They said, “Each of you must turn(G) from your wicked ways and reform(H) your actions; do not follow other gods(I) to serve them. Then you will live in the land(J) I have given to you and your ancestors.” But you have not paid attention or listened(K) to me.

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33 And they have turned unto me the back, and not the face: though I taught them, rising up early and teaching them, yet they have not hearkened to receive instruction.

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33 They turned their backs(A) to me and not their faces; though I taught(B) them again and again, they would not listen or respond to discipline.(C)

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17 Seeing thou hatest instruction, and casteth my words behind thee.

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17 You hate(A) my instruction
    and cast my words behind(B) you.

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Three shepherds also I cut off in one month; and my soul lothed them, and their soul also abhorred me.

Then said I, I will not feed you: that that dieth, let it die; and that that is to be cut off, let it be cut off; and let the rest eat every one the flesh of another.

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In one month I got rid of the three shepherds.

The flock detested(A) me, and I grew weary of them and said, “I will not be your shepherd. Let the dying die, and the perishing perish.(B) Let those who are left eat(C) one another’s flesh.”

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19 Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.

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19 After I strayed,(A)
    I repented;
after I came to understand,
    I beat(B) my breast.
I was ashamed(C) and humiliated
    because I bore the disgrace of my youth.’(D)

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11 And I will make Jerusalem heaps, and a den of dragons; and I will make the cities of Judah desolate, without an inhabitant.

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11 “I will make Jerusalem a heap(A) of ruins,
    a haunt of jackals;(B)
and I will lay waste the towns of Judah(C)
    so no one can live there.”(D)

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34 Then will I cause to cease from the cities of Judah, and from the streets of Jerusalem, the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride: for the land shall be desolate.

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34 I will bring an end to the sounds(A) of joy and gladness and to the voices of bride and bridegroom(B) in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem,(C) for the land will become desolate.(D)

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20 Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Behold, mine anger and my fury shall be poured out upon this place, upon man, and upon beast, and upon the trees of the field, and upon the fruit of the ground; and it shall burn, and shall not be quenched.

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20 “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign(A) Lord says: My anger(B) and my wrath will be poured(C) out on this place—on man and beast, on the trees of the field and on the crops of your land—and it will burn and not be quenched.(D)

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