1 The word of the Lord that came to Zephaniah son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah(A) son of Amon, king of Judah.
The Great Day of the Lord
2
I will completely sweep away everything
from the face of the earth(B)—
this is the Lord’s declaration.
3 from the face of the earth(B)—
this is the Lord’s declaration.
I will sweep away man and animal;(C)
I will sweep away the birds of the sky
and the fish of the sea,
and the ruins(a) along with the wicked.(D)
I will cut off mankind
from the face of the earth.
This is the Lord’s declaration.
I will sweep away the birds of the sky
and the fish of the sea,
and the ruins(a) along with the wicked.(D)
I will cut off mankind
from the face of the earth.
This is the Lord’s declaration.
4
5
6
and those who turn back from following the Lord,
who do not seek the Lord or inquire of Him.
7 who do not seek the Lord or inquire of Him.
Be silent in the presence of the Lord God,(K)
for the Day of the Lord is near.(L)
Indeed, the Lord has prepared a sacrifice;(M)
He has consecrated His guests.(N)
for the Day of the Lord is near.(L)
Indeed, the Lord has prepared a sacrifice;(M)
He has consecrated His guests.(N)
8
On the day of the Lord’s sacrifice
I will punish the officials, the king’s sons,
and all who are dressed in foreign clothing.
9 I will punish the officials, the king’s sons,
and all who are dressed in foreign clothing.
On that day(O) I will punish
all who skip over the threshold,(c)(P)
who fill their master’s house
with violence and deceit.
all who skip over the threshold,(c)(P)
who fill their master’s house
with violence and deceit.
10
11
Wail, you residents of the Hollow,(d)
for all the merchants(e) will be silenced;
all those loaded with silver will be cut off.
for all the merchants(e) will be silenced;
all those loaded with silver will be cut off.
12
13
Their wealth will become plunder
and their houses a ruin.
They will build houses but never live in them,
plant vineyards but never drink their wine.(T)
and their houses a ruin.
They will build houses but never live in them,
plant vineyards but never drink their wine.(T)
14
The great Day of the Lord is near,(U)
near and rapidly approaching.
Listen, the Day of the Lord—
then the warrior’s cry is bitter.
15
16 near and rapidly approaching.
Listen, the Day of the Lord—
then the warrior’s cry is bitter.
a day of trumpet blast and battle cry
against the fortified cities,
and against the high corner towers.
17 against the fortified cities,
and against the high corner towers.
I will bring distress on mankind,
and they will walk like the blind(X)
because they have sinned against the Lord.
Their blood will be poured out like dust
and their flesh like dung.
18
and they will walk like the blind(X)
because they have sinned against the Lord.
Their blood will be poured out like dust
and their flesh like dung.
Footnotes:
a.
Zephaniah 1:3: Perhaps objects connected with idolatry
b.
Zephaniah 1:5: Some LXX mss, Syr, Vg; MT, other LXX mss read their king
c.
Zephaniah 1:9: Hb obscure
d.
Zephaniah 1:11: Or the market district
e.
Zephaniah 1:11: Or Canaanites
f.
Zephaniah 1:12: Lit who thicken on their dregs