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In spite of that, the Lord is good to Jerusalem.
    He never does anything that is wrong.
Every morning he does what is fair.
    Each new day he does the right thing.
But those who do what is wrong
    aren’t even ashamed of it.

Jerusalem Remains Unrepentant

The Lord says to his people,

“I have destroyed other nations.
    I have wiped out their forts.
I have left their streets deserted.
    No one walks along them.
Their cities are destroyed.
    They are deserted and empty.
Here is what I thought about Jerusalem.
‘Surely you will have respect for me.
    Surely you will accept my warning.’
    Then the city you think is safe would not be destroyed.
And I would not have to punish you so much.
    But they still wanted to go on sinning
    in every way they could.

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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