I am Zephaniah, the son of Cushi, the grandson of Gedaliah, the great-grandson of Amariah, and the great-great-grandson of Hezekiah. When Josiah son of Amon was king of Judah, the Lord gave me this message.

Not a trace will be found of those who worship stars from their rooftops, or bow down to the god Milcom, while claiming loyalty to me, the Lord.

Be silent! I am the Lord God, and the time is near. I am preparing to sacrifice my people and to invite my guests.

On that day I will punish national leaders and sons of the king, along with all who follow foreign customs.

I'll search Jerusalem with lamps and punish those people who sit there unworried while thinking, “The Lord won't do anything, good or bad.”

A Terrible Day

The great day of the Lord is coming soon, very soon. On that terrible day, fearsome shouts of warriors will be heard everywhere.

It will be a time of anger— of trouble and torment, of disaster and destruction, of darkness and despair, of storm clouds and shadows,

The Lord warns everyone who has sinned against him, “I'll strike you blind! Then your blood and your insides will gush out like vomit.

Not even your silver or gold can save you on that day when I, the Lord, am angry. My anger will flare up like a furious fire scorching the earth and everyone on it.”

before it's too late. The Lord has set a time when his fierce anger will strike like a storm and sweep you away.

If you humbly obey the Lord, then come and worship him. If you do right and are humble, perhaps you will be safe on that day when the Lord turns loose his anger.

To you people of Philistia who live along the coast, the Lord has this to say: “I am now your enemy, and I'll wipe you out!”

Your seacoast will be changed into pastureland and sheep pens.

The Lord God hasn't forgotten those survivors in Judah, and he will help them— his people will take your land to use for pasture. And when evening comes, they will rest in houses at Ashkelon.

Judgment on Moab and Ammon

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The Lord All-Powerful, the God of Israel, said: I've heard Moab and Ammon insult my people and threaten their nation.

And so, I swear by my very life that Moab and Ammon will end up like Sodom and Gomorrah— covered with thornbushes and salt pits forever. Then my people who survive will take their land.

This is how Moab and Ammon will at last be repaid for their pride— and for sneering at the nation that belongs to me, the Lord All-Powerful.

I will fiercely attack. Then every god on this earth will shrink to nothing, and everyone of every nation will bow down to me, right where they are.

Judgment on Ethiopia

People of Ethiopia, the sword of the Lord will slaughter you!

Herds of wild animals will live in its rubble; all kinds of desert owls will perch on its stones and hoot in the windows. Noisy ravens will be heard inside its buildings, stripped bare of cedar.

This is the glorious city that felt secure and said, “I am the only one!” Now it's merely ruins, a home for wild animals. Every passerby simply sneers and makes vulgar signs.

Sinful Jerusalem

Too bad for that disgusting, corrupt, and lawless city!

All who do evil are shameless, but the Lord does right and is always fair. With the dawn of each day, God brings about justice.

The Lord wiped out nations and left fortresses crumbling in the dirt. Their streets and towns were reduced to ruins and emptied of people.

God felt certain that Jerusalem would learn to respect and obey him. Then he would hold back from punishing the city and not wipe it out. But everyone there was eager to start sinning again.