| Holman Christian Standard Bible | NET Bible |
| 1For the choir director: on stringed instruments. 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 son of Amon, king of Judah. | 1This is the prophetic message that the LORD gave to Zephaniah son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah. Zephaniah delivered this message during the reign of King Josiah son of Amon of Judah: |
| 2I will completely sweep away everything from the face of the earth-- this is the LORD's declaration. | 2"I will destroy everything from the face of the earth," says the LORD. |
| 3I will sweep away man and animal; I will sweep away the birds of the sky and the fish of the sea, and the ruins along with the wicked. I will cut off mankind from the face of the earth. This is the LORD's declaration. | 3"I will destroy people and animals; I will destroy the birds in the sky and the fish in the sea. (The idolatrous images of these creatures will be destroyed along with evil people.) I will remove humanity from the face of the earth," says the LORD. |
| 4I will stretch out My hand against Judah and against all the residents of Jerusalem. I will cut off every vestige of Baal from this place, the names of the pagan priests along with the priests; | 4"I will attack Judah and all who live in Jerusalem. I will remove from this place every trace of Baal worship, as well as the very memory of the pagan priests. |
| 5those who bow in worship on the rooftops to the heavenly host; those who bow and pledge loyalty to the LORD but also pledge loyalty to Milcom; | 5I will remove those who worship the stars in the sky from their rooftops, those who swear allegiance to the LORD while taking oaths in the name of their 'king,' |
| 6and those who turn back from following the LORD, who do not seek the LORD or inquire of Him. | 6and those who turn their backs on the LORD and do not want the LORD's help or guidance." |
| 7Be silent in the presence of the Lord GOD, for the Day of the LORD is near. Indeed, the LORD has prepared a sacrifice; He has consecrated His guests. | 7Be silent before the Lord GOD, for the LORD's day of judgment is almost here. The LORD has prepared a sacrificial meal; he has ritually purified his guests. |
| 8On the day of the LORD's sacrifice I will punish the officials, the king's sons, and all who are dressed in foreign clothing. | 8"On the day of the LORD's sacrificial meal, I will punish the princes and the king's sons, and all who wear foreign styles of clothing. |
| 9On that day I will punish all who skip over the threshold, who fill their master's house with violence and deceit. | 9On that day I will punish all who leap over the threshold, who fill the house of their master with wealth taken by violence and deceit. |
| 10On that day-- this is the LORD's declaration-- there will be an outcry from the Fish Gate, a wailing from the Second District, and a loud crashing from the hills. | 10On that day," says the LORD, "a loud cry will go up from the Fish Gate, wailing from the city's newer district, and a loud crash from the hills. |
| 11Wail, you residents of the Hollow, for all the merchants will be silenced; all those loaded with silver will be cut off. | 11Wail, you who live in the market district, for all the merchants will disappear and those who count money will be removed. |
| 12And at that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish the men who settle down comfortably, who say to themselves: The LORD will not do good or evil. | 12At that time I will search through Jerusalem with lamps. I will punish the people who are entrenched in their sin, those who think to themselves, 'The LORD neither rewards nor punishes.' |
| 13Their 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. | 13Their wealth will be stolen and their houses ruined! They will not live in the houses they have built, nor will they drink the wine from the vineyards they have planted. |
| 14The great Day of the LORD is near, near and rapidly approaching. Listen, the Day of the LORD-- then the warrior's cry is bitter. | 14The LORD's great day of judgment is almost here; it is approaching very rapidly! There will be a bitter sound on the LORD's day of judgment; at that time warriors will cry out in battle. |
| 15That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of destruction and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness, | 15That day will be a day of God's anger, a day of distress and hardship, a day of devastation and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and dark skies, |
| 16a day of trumpet blast and battle cry against the fortified cities, and against the high corner towers. | 16a day of trumpet blasts and battle cries. Judgment will fall on the fortified cities and the high corner towers. |
| 17I will bring distress on mankind, and they will walk like the blind because they have sinned against the LORD. Their blood will be poured out like dust and their flesh like dung. | 17I will bring distress on the people and they will stumble like blind men, for they have sinned against the LORD. Their blood will be poured out like dirt; their flesh will be scattered like manure. |
| 18Their silver and their gold will not be able to rescue them on the day of the LORD's wrath. The whole earth will be consumed by the fire of His jealousy. For He will make a complete, yes, a horrifying end of all the inhabitants of the earth. | 18Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD's angry judgment. The whole earth will be consumed by his fiery wrath. Indeed, he will bring terrifying destruction on all who live on the earth." |
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