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A Happy Song

14 Jerusalem, sing and be happy!
    Israel, shout for joy!
    Jerusalem, be happy and have fun!
15 The Lord stopped your punishment.
    He destroyed your enemies’ strong towers.
King of Israel, the Lord is with you.
    You don’t need to worry about anything bad happening.
16 At that time Jerusalem will be told,
    “Be strong, don’t be afraid!
17 The Lord your God is with you.
    He is like a powerful soldier.
    He will save you.
He will show how much he loves you
    and how happy he is with you.
He will laugh and be happy about you,
18     like people at a party.
I will take away your shame.
    I will make them stop hurting you.[a]
19 At that time I will punish those who hurt you.
    I will save my hurt people
    and bring back those who were forced to leave.
I will give them praise and honor everywhere,
    even in places where they suffered shame.
20 At that time I will lead you back home.
    I will bring your people back together.
I will cause people everywhere to honor and praise you.
    You will see me bring back all the blessings you once had.”
This is what the Lord said.

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Footnotes

  1. Zephaniah 3:18 The Hebrew text here is hard to understand.

14 Sing, Daughter Zion;(A)
    shout aloud,(B) Israel!
Be glad and rejoice(C) 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;(D)
    never again will you fear(E) any harm.(F)
16 On that day
    they will say to Jerusalem,
“Do not fear, Zion;
    do not let your hands hang limp.(G)
17 The Lord your God is with you,
    the Mighty Warrior who saves.(H)
He will take great delight(I) in you;
    in his love he will no longer rebuke you,(J)
    but will rejoice over you with singing.”(K)

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(L) you.
I will rescue the lame;
    I will gather the exiles.(M)
I will give them praise(N) and honor
    in every land where they have suffered shame.
20 At that time I will gather you;
    at that time I will bring(O) you home.
I will give you honor(P) and praise(Q)
    among all the peoples of the earth
when I restore your fortunes[a](R)
    before your very eyes,”
says the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. Zephaniah 3:20 Or I bring back your captives