Zephaniah

1.1 The word of YHVH that came to Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah.

1.2 Gather, gather, gather all from off the face of the earth, saith YHVH.

1.3 I will gather together man and beast, I will gather together the fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and the stumblingblocks of the wicked. and I will cut off man from the face of the earth, saith YHVH.

1.4 And I will stretch out my hand upon Judah and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and will cut off from this place the remnant of Baal, the name of the priests with the priests.

1.5 And those who worship the host of heaven on the housetops, and those who worship and swear by YHVH and by their king,

1.6 And those who turn away from YHVH, and who do not seek YHVH or inquire of him,

1.7 Hail from the presence of ADNY YHVH; for the day of YHVH is near; for YHVH hath prepared a sacrifice of holiness for his name.

1.8 And it came to pass on the day of YHVH'S sacrifice, that I commanded the princes, and the king's sons, and all that were clothed with strange apparel.

1.9 And I will punish all who leap on the threshold in that day, who fill their masters' houses with violence and deceit.

1.10 And it shall come to pass in that day, that YHVH shall speak, the voice of a cry from the fish gate, and howling from the valley, and a great crashing from the hills.

1.11 The inhabitants of the pit lament, for it seems that all the people of Canaan are cut off; all who take silver are cut off.

1.12 And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and punish the men that are settled in their watches, that say in their heart, YHVH will not do good, neither will he do evil.

1.13 And it shall be a desolation for them, and their houses a desolation. and they shall build houses, but not inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, but not drink the wine thereof.

1.14 The great day of YHVH is near, near and hastens greatly. The voice of the day of YHVH is bitter, the mighty one cries out.

1.15 That day has passed, a day of trouble and distress, a day of gloom and darkness, a day of clouds and mist.

1.16 A day of trumpet blast and alarm against the fortified cities and against the corners of the heights.

1.17 And I will bring trouble upon man, and they shall walk abominably. for they have sinned against YHVH, and their blood is poured out as dust, and their heat as dung.

1.18 Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of YHVH's wrath, and in the fire of his jealousy the whole land shall be devoured. for he will utterly destroy all the inhabitants of the land.

2.1 The people are troubled and troubled, the nation is not desired.

2.2 Before the law is established, as the day is passed, before the fierce anger of YHVH comes upon you, before the day of YHVH's wrath comes upon you.

2.3 Seek YHVH, all you meek of the earth, who have practiced his justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be you will be hidden on the day of YHVH's anger.

2.4 For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation. Ashdod shall be driven out at noonday, and Ekron shall be uprooted.

2.5 O inhabitant of the isle of the sea, nation of the Cherethites, YHVH hath spoken against you, O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, and I will destroy you from where you dwell.

2.6 And the sea coast shall be a pasture for shepherds, and folds for flocks.

2.7 And it shall come to pass, that the remnant of the house of Judah shall mourn over them, in the houses of Ashkelon, in the evening they shall lie down, because YHVH their Alhym will visit them, and their captivity shall return.

2.8 I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, who have reproached my people, and magnified themselves beyond their border.

2.9 Therefore as I live, saith YHVH of hosts, the Alhym of Israel, surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, a wilderness, and a salt mine, and a desolation for ever. the remnant of my people shall mourn, and the residue of the nation shall mourn.

2.10 This is their pride, because they have despised and magnified themselves against the people of YHVH of hosts.

2.11 YHVH is terrible to them, for he has made all the gods of the earth weak; and all the isles of the nations shall bow down to him, every one from his place.

2.12 You too, blacks, are fallen by the sword.

2.13 And he shall stretch out his hand against the north, and destroy Assyria, and make Nineveh a desolation, as desolate as the wilderness.

2.14 And flocks shall lie down in the midst of her, all the beasts of the field, both the goat and the camel, shall lie down in her bosom. They shall cry out, and a voice shall sing at the window, and a sword shall be at the threshold, because she hath laid her arms wide open.

2.15 This is the exultant city that dwelleth securely, that saith in her heart, I am, and I am nothing. how is it that it should be a den of beasts? every one that passeth by it shall hiss, and wag his hand.

3.1 Woe to the city of Dove, which is a sight to behold and a city of salvation!

3.2 She did not obey the voice, she did not receive instruction from YHVH, she did not trust in her Alhym, she did not draw near.

3.3 She was surrounded by roaring lions, and the wolves of Shephatiah did not cause her to visit.

3.4 Her prophets are deceitful, the people of the coastlands, her priests have profaned the sanctuary, they have violated the Torah.

3.5 YHVH is righteous in his midst; he will not make a burnt offering; in the morning he will give his judgment to the light; he will not fail, and he will not know the iniquity of the world.

3.6 I have known the nations, they have turned their backs; I have laid waste their streets, without a passerby; I have laid waste their cities, without a man dwelling.

3.7 I said, "Fear me, and take instruction, and let not all my punishment be cut off from her, for I have commanded her; indeed, they have become wise, they have corrupted all their plots."

3.8 Therefore wait for me, saith YHVH, for the day of my rising up forever, for my judgment is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour upon them my fury, all my fierce anger; for the whole earth shall be devoured by the fire of my jealousy.

3.9 For then I will turn to the peoples a pure language, that they may all call on the name of YHVH, to serve him with one accord.

3.10 Beyond the rivers of Cush, Atari, Bat Puzi, Jublon, Minachati

3.11 In that day you will not be ashamed of all your transgressions, which you have committed against me. For then I will remove from your midst your proud exultations, and you will no longer be exalted in my holy mountain.

3.12 And I will leave in the midst of you a poor and needy people, and they shall take refuge in the name of YHVH.

3.13 The remnant of Israel shall not make a sacrifice, nor speak lies, neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth. for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.

3.14 Let the daughters of Zion shout for joy, O Israel! Rejoice and be glad with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!

3.15 YHVH has taken away your judgments; he has turned away your adversaries; the King of Israel, YHVH, is in your midst; you shall fear evil no more.

3.16 In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands be slack.

3.17 YHVH your Alhym in your midst is a mighty one who will save; he will reign over you with joy; he will reign over you with his love; he will proclaim his glory over you.

3.18 I have gathered you from the time of trouble, you would have carried shame upon you.

3.19 Behold, I will perform all your afflictions at that time, and I will save the outcasts and gather those who were cast away, and you will become a praise and a name in all the earth.

3.20 At that time I will bring you, and at the time I will gather you, for I will make you a name and a praise among all the peoples of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, says YHVH.