Zephaniah 3:1-7

Evangelical Heritage Version

Judgment Against Jerusalem

3 Woe to the filthy,^[a] foul city, the city of oppressors. ² She does not listen. She does not accept correction. She does not even trust the Lord or draw near to her God. ³ The officials within her are like roaring lions. Her judges are like hungry wolves in the evening that completely devour their prey by morning. ⁴ Her prophets are reckless, treacherous men. Her priests have profaned what is holy. They have committed violence against the law.

⁵ The Lord in her midst is just. He does no wrong. Every morning he brings his justice to light. He does not fail. But those who are unjust are shameless.

The Final Proclamation of the Lord

⁶ I have cut off nations. Their corner towers are in ruins. I have made their streets desolate, with no one passing by. Their cities are laid waste, with no one living there. ⁷ I said, “Certainly you will fear me. You will accept correction so that your dwelling place will not be destroyed by everything I have threatened.” But they eagerly sinned in everything they did.