Zep3:1 Ah, soiled, defiled, oppressing city!
Zep3:2 It has listened to no voice; it has accepted no correction. It has not trusted in the LORD; it has not drawn near to its God.
Zep3:3 The officials within it are roaring lions; its judges are evening wolves that leave nothing until the morning.
Zep3:4 Its prophets are reckless, faithless persons; its priests have profaned what is sacred, they have done violence to the law.
Zep3:5 The LORD within it is righteous; he does no wrong. Every morning he renders his judgment, each dawn without fail; but the unjust knows no shame.
Zep3:6 I have cut off nations; their battlements are in ruins; I have laid waste their streets so that no one walks in them; their cities have been made desolate, without people, without inhabitants.
Zep3:7 I said, "Surely the city will fear me, it will accept correction; it will not lose sight of all that I have brought upon it." But they were the more eager to make all their deeds corrupt.
Zep3:8 Therefore wait for me, says the LORD, for the day when I arise as a witness. For my decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out upon them my indignation, all the heat of my anger; for in the fire of my passion all the earth shall be consumed.
Zep3:9
Zep3:10 From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, my scattered ones, shall bring my offering.
Zep3:11 On that day you shall not be put to shame because of all the deeds by which you have rebelled against me; for then I will remove from your midst your proudly exultant ones, and you shall no longer be haughty in my holy mountain.
Zep3:12 For I will leave in the midst of you a people humble and lowly. They shall seek refuge in the name of the LORD--
Zep3:13 the remnant of Israel; they shall do no wrong and utter no lies, nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouths. Then they will pasture and lie down, and no one shall make them afraid.
Zep3:14 Sing aloud, O daughter Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem!
Zep3:15 The LORD has taken away the judgments against you, he has turned away your enemies. The king of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you shall fear disaster no more.
Zep3:16 On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands grow weak.
Zep3:17 The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing
Zep3:18 as on a day of festival. I will remove disaster from you, so that you will not bear reproach for it.
Zep3:19 I will deal with all your oppressors at that time. And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth.
Zep3:20 At that time I will bring you home, at the time when I gather you; for I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes, says the LORD.