Zephaniah

1

Zephaniah was the great great grandson of Hezekiah. He prophesied in the days of Josiah. The Lord says He will utterly consume everything from the face of the land. Judgment is promised to idolaters. The day of the Lord is at hand; in the day of the Lord’s sacrifice, He will punish the princes and the king’s children, those who wear foreign apparel, and those who practise violence and deceit. The merchants will be cut down, as will be complacent. The day of the Lord will be characterised by darkness, gloominess, cloud, trumpet and alarm. The Lord will make a speedy riddance.


2

Gather yourselves. Seek righteousness and humility while there is still time – you may be hidden in the day of the Lord’s anger. God promises to destroy the cities of the Philistines and give their land as pasture for the remnant of the house of Judah. Moab shall be like Sodom, and Ammon like the people of Gomorrah. The Lord will reduce all the gods of the earth to nothing; people from all shores shall worship Him. Ethiopians will be slain by the sword, and the Assyrians will de destroyed on account of their pride.


3

Jerusalem is rebellious and polluted. The Lord is righteous in Jerusalem’s midst. Having poured his indignation on nations, the Lord will give the world a common language, with which it will worship Him. Israel will no longer be haughty on God’s holy mountain. Sing, O daughter of Zion! The outcast and needy will be marginalised no more, and Jerusalem will be given fame and praise among all the peoples of the earth, when the captives are restored.