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16 The time is coming when they will say to Jerusalem,
    “Do not be afraid, city of Zion!
    Do not let your hands hang limp!
17 The Lord your God is with you;
    his power gives you victory.
The Lord will take delight in you,
    and in his love he will give you new life.[a]
He will sing and be joyful over you,
18     as joyful as people at a festival.”
The Lord says,
“I have ended the threat of doom
    and taken away your disgrace.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. Zephaniah 3:17 Some ancient translations give you new life; Hebrew be silent.
  2. Zephaniah 3:18 Verse 18 in Hebrew is unclear.

16 On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
“Do not fear, O Zion;
    do not let your hands grow weak.(A)
17 The Lord, your God, is in your midst,
    a warrior who gives victory;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
    he will renew you[a] in his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing(B)
18     as on a day of festival.”[b]
I will remove disaster from you,[c]
    so that you will not bear reproach for it.

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Footnotes

  1. 3.17 Gk Syr: Heb he will be silent
  2. 3.18 Gk Syr: Meaning of Heb uncertain
  3. 3.18 Cn: Heb I will remove from you; they were

16 On that day, it will be said
to Yerushalayim,
“Do not fear, Tziyon!
don’t let your hands droop down.
17 Adonai your God is right there with you,
as a mighty savior.
He will rejoice over you and be glad,
he will be silent in his love,
he will shout over you with joy.”

18 “I will gather those of yours
who grieve over the appointed feasts
and bear the burden of reproach
[because they cannot keep them].

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God Is Present Among You

16-17 Jerusalem will be told:
    “Don’t be afraid.
Dear Zion,
    don’t despair.
Your God is present among you,
    a strong Warrior there to save you.
Happy to have you back, he’ll calm you with his love
    and delight you with his songs.

* * *

18-20 “The accumulated sorrows of your exile
    will dissipate.
I, your God, will get rid of them for you.
    You’ve carried those burdens long enough.
At the same time, I’ll get rid of all those
    who’ve made your life miserable.
I’ll heal the maimed;
    I’ll bring home the homeless.
In the very countries where they were hated
    they will be venerated.
On Judgment Day
    I’ll bring you back home—a great family gathering!
You’ll be famous and honored
    all over the world.
You’ll see it with your own eyes—
    all those painful partings turned into reunions!”
        God’s Promise.

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