Old Testament · Zephaniah

Zephaniah 2

A Call to Repentance

(Joel 1:13–20; Amos 5:4–15; Luke 13:1–5)

1Gather yourselves together and gather, O nation not longed for;
2before the statute^a is brought forth—like chaff the day passes—before there comes upon you the heat of the anger of the LORD, before there comes upon you the day of the anger of the LORD.
3Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, who have done his judgment^b; seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be hidden in the day of the anger of the LORD.

Judgment on the Philistines

(Jeremiah 47:1–7)

4For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation; Ashdod—at noon they shall drive her out, and Ekron shall be uprooted.
5Woe to the inhabitants of the region of the sea, the nation of the Cherethites! The word of the LORD is against you, O Canaan, land of the Philistines; and I will destroy you, without an inhabitant.
6And the region of the sea shall become pastures, meadows for shepherds, and folds for flocks.
7And the region shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; upon them they shall pasture; in the houses of Ashkelon at evening they shall lie down; for the LORD their God will visit them and turn back their captivity.

Judgment on Moab and Ammon

(Isaiah 16:1–14; Jeremiah 48:1–47)

8I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the sons of Ammon, who have reproached my people and made themselves great against their border.
9Therefore, as I live^c, declares the LORD of hosts^d, the God of Israel, surely Moab shall be like Sodom, and the sons of Ammon like Gomorrah, a possession of nettles and a pit of salt and a desolation forever; the remnant of my people shall plunder them, and the rest of my nation shall inherit them.
10This shall be to them in place of their pride, because they have reproached and made themselves great against the people of the LORD of hosts.
11Awesome is the LORD against them, for he has made lean all the gods of the earth; and they shall bow down to him, each man^e from his place, all the coasts of the nations.

Judgment on Cush and Assyria

12Also you, O Cushites—slain of my sword are they.
13And he will stretch out his hand against the north, and destroy Assyria; and he will make Nineveh a desolation, a dry land like the wilderness.
14And flocks shall lie down in her midst, every beast of a nation; also the pelican, also the hedgehog shall lodge in her capitals; a voice shall sing in the window, desolation on the threshold, for he has laid bare the cedar-work.
15This is the exultant city that dwells in security, that says in her heart, "I am, and there is none besides me." How has she become a desolation, a lair for the beast! Everyone passing by her shall hiss, shall wag his hand.