Zephaniah 3

New Catholic Bible

¹ Woe to the city of tyrants,
    rebellious and defiled.
² It has not heeded any warning voice,
    it has not accepted any correction.
It has not placed its trust in the Lord;
    it has not drawn near to its God.
³ The officials within it
    are roaring lions;
its judges are wolves of the wasteland
    that leave nothing in reserve for the morning.
⁴ Its prophets are arrogant;
    they are treacherous men.
Its priests have profaned what is holy
    and done violence to the law.
⁵ The Lord within this city is just;
    he does no wrong.
Morning after morning he renders judgment
    unfailingly at dawn.
⁶ I have cut off nations;
    their strongholds lie in ruins.
I have laid waste their streets
    so that no one walks along them.
Their cities have been laid waste,
    and now they are deserted,
    without inhabitants.
⁷ I thought, “Surely you will now fear me
    and be willing to accept correction.
You will not fail to realize
    how I have inflicted punishments on you.”
However, they only seemed more eager
    to make all their deeds corrupt.
⁸ Therefore, wait for me, says the Lord;
    wait for the day when I stand up to accuse you.
For I am determined to gather nations
    and assemble kingdoms
in order to pour forth my wrath upon them,
    all the heat of my anger.
The entire earth will be consumed
    by the fire of my jealousy.

⁹ Then I will purify
    the lips of my people,
so that all may call on
    the name of the Lord
    and serve him with one accord.
¹⁰ From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia
    my suppliants, my scattered ones,
    will bring offerings to me.
¹¹ On that day you will not be put to shame
    as a result of all the deeds
    by which you have rebelled against me.
For then I will remove from your midst
    those who are proud and arrogant,
and then you will never again flaunt your pride
    on my holy mountain.
¹² For I will leave in your midst
    those who are meek and humble;
    they will seek refuge in the name of the Lord.
¹³ This remnant of Israel will do no wrong
    and utter no lies.
Nor will a deceitful tongue
    be found in their mouths.
They will eat and lie down,
    and no one will cause them to be afraid.
¹⁴ Cry out with joy, daughter of Zion;
    shout aloud, O Israel.
Rejoice and exult with all your heart,
    O daughter, Jerusalem.
¹⁵ The Lord has canceled the punishments against you;
    he has turned away your enemies.
The king of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst;
    you need never again fear any harm.
¹⁶ On that day it will be said to Jerusalem:
    Fear not, O Zion;
    do not let your hands grow weak.
¹⁷ The Lord, your God, is in your midst,
    a warrior and a savior.
He will rejoice over you with gladness
    and renew you through his love.
He will exult over you with shouts of joy
¹⁸     as on a day of festival.
I will remove your misfortune
    so that you no longer will need to endure reproach.
¹⁹ At that time I will deal
    with all those who oppress you.
I will rescue the lame
    and gather the dispersed.
I will win for them praise and renown
    throughout the whole world.
²⁰ At that time I will gather you together
    and bring you home.
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.