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Be silent at the presence of the Lord[a] Yahweh, for the day of Yahweh is at hand. For Yahweh has prepared a sacrifice. He has consecrated his guests. It will happen in the day of Yahweh’s sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, the king’s sons, and all those who are clothed with foreign clothing. In that day, I will punish all those who leap over the threshold, who fill their master’s house with violence and deceit. 10 In that day, says Yahweh, there will be the noise of a cry from the fish gate, a wailing from the second quarter, and a great crashing from the hills. 11 Wail, you inhabitants of Maktesh, for all the people of Canaan are undone! All those who were loaded with silver are cut off. 12 It will happen at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the men who are settled on their dregs, who say in their heart, “Yahweh will not do good, neither will he do evil.” 13 Their wealth will become a plunder, and their houses a desolation. Yes, they will build houses, but won’t inhabit them. They will plant vineyards, but won’t drink their wine.

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Footnotes

  1. 1:7 The word translated “Lord” is “Adonai.”

The Approaching Day of the Lord

Remain silent in the presence of the Lord God,
    because the Day of the Lord approaches,
and because the Lord has prepared a sacrifice
    for those whom he has invited to be consecrated.

“It will come about during[a] the Lord’s sacrifice
    that I’ll punish the officials,[b] the royal descendants,
        and all who wear foreign clothing.[c]
At the same time, I’ll punish every idol worshipper,[d]
    especially those who are filling their master’s temple with violence and deceit.
10 When all of this happens,”[e] declares the Lord,
    “a loud shriek will come[f] from the Fish Gate,
and howling from the Mishneh[g] Quarter,
    along with great destruction from the hills.”

Divine Judgment on the Business Community

11 “Wail, you who live in the market district,
    because all of the merchants will be crushed
        and all of their customers[h] will be eliminated.[i]
12 And it will come about that I will search Jerusalem with candles,[j]
    punishing the self-satisfied and complacent,
who say to themselves,
    ‘The Lord will do neither good nor evil.’
13 Therefore their possessions will be seized as plunder
    and their homes left in ruins.
They may build houses,
    but they won’t live in them.
They may plant vineyards,
    but they won’t drink their wine.”

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Footnotes

  1. Zephaniah 1:8 Lit. in the day of
  2. Zephaniah 1:8 Lit. princes
  3. Zephaniah 1:8 Or wear cultic vestments
  4. Zephaniah 1:9 Lit. everyone who leaps over the threshold; cf. 1Sam 5:5
  5. Zephaniah 1:10 Lit. It will come about in that day
  6. Zephaniah 1:10 The Heb. lacks will come
  7. Zephaniah 1:10 Or from The Second; i.e. a section of Jerusalem
  8. Zephaniah 1:11 Lit. all who carry silver
  9. Zephaniah 1:11 Lit. be cut off
  10. Zephaniah 1:12 Or with oil lamps