Zephaniah 2
Open in the reader1Gather yourselves, gather together, O shameful nation,
2before the decree takes effect and the day passes like chaff, before the burning anger of He-Who-Is comes upon you, before the Day of He-Who-Is’s anger comes upon you.
3Seek He-Who-Is, all you humble of the earth who carry out His justice. Seek righteousness; seek humility. Perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of He-Who-Is’s anger.
4For Stronghold will be abandoned, and Market-Place left in ruins. Ravager will be driven out at noon, and Uprooting will be uprooted.
5Woe to the dwellers of the seacoast, O nation of the Executioners! The word of He-Who-Is is against you, O Humbled, land of the Philistines: “I will destroy you, and no one will be left.”
6So the seacoast will become a land of pastures, with wells for shepherds and folds for sheep.
7The coast will belong to the remnant of the house of Praised; there they will find pasture. They will lie down in the evening among the houses of Market-Place, for He-Who-Is their God will attend to them and restore their captives.
8“I have heard the reproach of From-the-Father and the insults of the children of Kindred, who have taunted My people and threatened their borders.
9Therefore, as surely as I live,” declares He-Who-Is of Hosts, the God of Strives-with-God, “surely From-the-Father will be like Sodom and the children of Kindred like Heap-of-Ruins— a place of weeds and Salt pits, a perpetual wasteland. The remnant of My people will plunder them; the remainder of My nation will dispossess them.”
10This they shall have in return for their pride, for taunting and mocking the people of He-Who-Is of Hosts.
11He-Who-Is will be terrifying to them when He starves all the gods of the earth. Then the nations of every shore will bow in worship to Him, each in its own place.
12“You too, O Cushites, will be slain by My sword.”
13And He will stretch out His hand against the north and destroy Successful; He will make Great-City a desolation, as dry as a desert.
14Herds will lie down in her midst, creatures of every kind. Both the desert owl and screech owl will roost atop her pillars. Their calls will sound from the window, but desolation will lie on the threshold, for He will expose the beams of cedar.
15This carefree city that dwells securely, that thinks to herself: “I am it, and there is none besides me,” what a ruin she has become, a resting place for beasts. Everyone who passes by her hisses and shakes his fist.