Zephaniah 1:7-13

New International Reader's Version

⁷Be silent in front of him.
    He is the Lord and King.
    The day of the Lord is near.
The Lord has prepared a sacrifice.
    He has set apart for himself
    the people he has invited.
⁸When the Lord’s sacrifice is ready to be offered,
    I will punish the officials and the king’s sons.
I will also judge all those who follow
    the practices of other nations.
⁹At that time I will punish
    all those who worship other gods.
They fill the temples of their gods
    with lies and other harmful things.

¹⁰“At that time people at the Fish Gate in Jerusalem
    will cry out,” announces the Lord.
“So will those at the New Quarter.
    The buildings on the hills will come crashing down
    with a loud noise.
¹¹Cry out, you who live in the market places.
    All your merchants will be wiped out.
    Those who trade in silver will be destroyed.
¹²At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps.
    I will punish those who are so contented.
    They are like wine that has not been shaken up.
They think, ‘The Lord won’t do anything.
    He won’t do anything good or bad.’
¹³Their wealth will be stolen.
    Their houses will be destroyed.
They will build houses.
    But they will not live in them.
They will plant vineyards.
    But they will not drink the wine they produce.