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But the Lord is ·good [righteous; just], and he is there in that city.
    He does no ·wrong [iniquity; injustice].
Every morning he ·governs the people fairly [provides justice];
    ·every day [L at the light/dawn] he ·can be trusted [never fails].
But evil people ·are not ashamed of what they do [know no shame].

“I have ·destroyed [L cut off] nations;
    their ·towers [fortresses; strongholds] were ruined.
I made their streets ·empty [deserted]
    so no one ·goes there [passes through] anymore.
Their cities are ·ruined [desolate];
    no one lives there at all.
I said, ‘Surely now ·Jerusalem [L you] will ·respect [fear] me [Prov. 1:7]
    and will accept my ·teaching [correction].’
Then the place where they lived would not be destroyed,
    and I would not have to punish them.
But they were still eager
    to ·do evil [act corruptly] in everything they did.

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The Lord within her is righteous;(A)
    he does no wrong.(B)
Morning by morning(C) he dispenses his justice,
    and every new day he does not fail,(D)
    yet the unrighteous know no shame.(E)

Jerusalem Remains Unrepentant

“I have destroyed nations;
    their strongholds are demolished.
I have left their streets deserted,
    with no one passing through.
Their cities are laid waste;(F)
    they are deserted and empty.
Of Jerusalem I thought,
    ‘Surely you will fear me
    and accept correction!’(G)
Then her place of refuge[a] would not be destroyed,
    nor all my punishments come upon[b] her.
But they were still eager
    to act corruptly(H) in all they did.

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Footnotes

  1. Zephaniah 3:7 Or her sanctuary
  2. Zephaniah 3:7 Or all those I appointed over