1The 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.

2“I will utterly sweep away everything from the face of the earth”, says the LORD. 3“I will sweep away both man and beast; I will sweep away the birds of the sky, and the fish in the sea, and the idols that cause the wicked to stumble; and I will destroy man from off the land,” says the LORD. 4“I will stretch out My hand against Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will destroy every last trace of Baal worship from this place, and the very names of the idolatrous priests (Chemarim); 5And those who bow down on the rooftops to worship the host of heaven (the sun, moon and stars); and those who worship and who swear by the LORD, but also swear by Malcam (Molek); 6And those who turned back from following the LORD; and those who have not sought the LORD, nor His blessings.”

7Be silent in the presence of the Sovereign LORD; for the day of the LORD is near. The LORD has prepared a sacrifice, He has consecrated those He has invited as His guests.

8“And on that day of the LORD's sacrifice, I will punish the officials, and the king's sons, and all that are clad in foreign attire. 9On that same day I will punish all those who participate in pagan and superstitious, rituals, such as leaping across thresholds, and who fill the temple of their gods with violence and deceit.

10“And on that day”, says the LORD, “a cry shall go up from the Fish Gate, and a wailing from the second (new) quarter, and a loud crash from the hills. 11Wail, you who live in Maktesh (the market district); for all the merchants shall be wiped out - all they who trade with silver.

12“And at that time, I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and punish those that are complacent - that say in their heart, ‘The LORD will do nothing – either good or bad’. 13Therefore, their goods and wealth shall be plundered, and their houses demolished; though they build houses, they shall not live in them; and though they plant vineyards, they shall not drink the wine of them.”

14The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and is coming quickly. The cry on the day of the LORD shall be bitter. 15That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of waste and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick blackness, 16A day of the trumpet and battle alarm against the fortified cities, and against the high corner towers. 17“And I will bring such distress upon people, that they shall grope like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD; and their blood shall be poured out like dust, and their entrails like the dung.” 18Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them in the day of the LORD's wrath; but in the fire of His jealousy, the whole land shall be consumed by the fire; for He shall make quick and sudden end of all who dwell on earth.