Zephaniah 1

New International Reader's Version

1 A message from the Lord came to Zephaniah, the son of Cushi. Cushi was the son of Gedaliah. Gedaliah was the son of Amariah. Amariah was the son of King Hezekiah. The Lord spoke to Zephaniah during the rule of Josiah. He was king of Judah and the son of Amon.

The Lord Will Judge the Whole World

²“I will sweep away everything
    from the face of the earth,”
    announces the Lord.
³“I will destroy people and animals alike.
    I will wipe out the birds in the sky
    and the fish in the waters.
I will destroy the statues of gods that cause evil people to sin.
    That will happen when I destroy all human beings on the face of the earth,”
    announces the Lord.
⁴“I will reach out my powerful hand against Judah.
    I will punish all those who live in Jerusalem.
I will destroy from this place
    what is left of Baal worship.
The priests who serve other gods
    will be removed.
⁵I will destroy those who bow down on their roofs
    to worship all the stars.
I will destroy those who make promises
    not only in my name but also in the name of Molek.
⁶I will destroy those who stop following the Lord.
    They no longer look to him or ask him for advice.
⁷Be silent in front of him.
    He is the Lord and King.
    The day of the Lord is near.
The Lord has prepared a sacrifice.
    He has set apart for himself
    the people he has invited.
⁸When the Lord’s sacrifice is ready to be offered,
    I will punish the officials and the king’s sons.
I will also judge all those who follow
    the practices of other nations.
⁹At that time I will punish
    all those who worship other gods.
They fill the temples of their gods
    with lies and other harmful things.

¹⁰“At that time people at the Fish Gate in Jerusalem
    will cry out,” announces the Lord.
“So will those at the New Quarter.
    The buildings on the hills will come crashing down
    with a loud noise.
¹¹Cry out, you who live in the market places.
    All your merchants will be wiped out.
    Those who trade in silver will be destroyed.
¹²At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps.
    I will punish those who are so contented.
    They are like wine that has not been shaken up.
They think, ‘The Lord won’t do anything.
    He won’t do anything good or bad.’
¹³Their wealth will be stolen.
    Their houses will be destroyed.
They will build houses.
    But they will not live in them.
They will plant vineyards.
    But they will not drink the wine they produce.
¹⁴The great day of the Lord is near.
    In fact, it is coming quickly.
The cries on that day are bitter.
    The Mighty Warrior shouts his battle cry.
¹⁵At that time I will pour out my anger.
    There will be great suffering and pain.
It will be a day of horrible trouble.
    It will be a time of darkness and gloom.
    It will be filled with the blackest clouds.
¹⁶Trumpet blasts and battle cries will be heard.
    Soldiers will attack cities
    that have forts and corner towers.
¹⁷I will bring great trouble on all people.
    So they will feel their way around like blind people.
    They have sinned against the Lord.
Their blood will be poured out like dust.
    Their bodies will lie rotting on the ground.
¹⁸Their silver and gold
    won’t save them
    on the day the Lord pours out his anger.
The whole earth will be burned up
    when his jealous anger blazes out.
Everyone who lives on earth
    will come to a sudden end.”