Judgment on Jerusalem and the Nations

Zephaniah 3

1 Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted,
To the oppressing city! 2 She has not obeyed His voice,
She has not received correction;
She has not trusted in the LORD,
She has not drawn near to her God.

3 a Her princes in her midst are roaring lions;
Her judges are b evening wolves
That leave not a bone till morning. 4 Her c prophets are insolent, treacherous people;
Her priests have 1 polluted the sanctuary,
They have done d violence to the law. 5 The LORD is righteous in her midst,
He will do no unrighteousness.
2 Every morning He brings His justice to light;
He never fails,
But e the unjust knows no shame.

6 "I have cut off nations,
Their fortresses are devastated;
I have made their streets desolate,
With none passing by.
Their cities are destroyed;
There is no one, no inhabitant. 7 f I said, 'Surely you will fear Me,
You will receive instruction' -
So that her dwelling would not be cut off,
Despite everything for which I punished her.
But 3 they rose early and g corrupted all their deeds.

8 "Therefore h wait for Me," says the LORD,
"Until the day I rise up 4 for plunder;
My determination is to i gather the nations
To My assembly of kingdoms,
To pour on them My indignation,
All My fierce anger;
All the earth j shall be devoured
With the fire of My jealousy.

  1. Cross References
    Ezekiel 22:27
    Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, to shed blood, to destroy people, and to get dishonest gain.
  2. Cross References
    Jeremiah 5:6
    Therefore a lion from the forest shall slay them, A wolf of the deserts shall destroy them; A leopard will watch over their cities. Everyone who goes out from there shall be torn in pieces, Because their transgressions are many; Their backslidings have increased.
    Habakkuk 1:8
    Their horses also are swifter than leopards, And more fierce than evening wolves. Their chargers charge ahead; Their cavalry comes from afar; They fly as the eagle that hastens to eat.
  3. Cross References
    Hosea 9:7
    The days of punishment have come; The days of recompense have come. Israel knows! The prophet is a fool, The spiritual man is insane, Because of the greatness of your iniquity and great enmity.
  4. Cross References
    Ezekiel 22:26
    Her priests have violated My law and profaned My holy things; they have not distinguished between the holy and unholy, nor have they made known the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they have hidden their eyes from My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them.
    Malachi 2:7
    For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, And people should seek the law from his mouth; For he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.
    Malachi 2:8
    But you have departed from the way; You have caused many to stumble at the law. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi," Says the LORD of hosts.
  5. Cross References
    Jeremiah 3:3
    Therefore the showers have been withheld, And there has been no latter rain. You have had a harlot's forehead; You refuse to be ashamed.
  6. Cross References
    Jeremiah 8:6
    I listened and heard, But they do not speak aright. No man repented of his wickedness, Saying, 'What have I done?' Everyone turned to his own course, As the horse rushes into the battle.
  7. Cross References
    Genesis 6:12
    So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.
  8. Cross References
    Proverbs 20:22
    Do not say, "I will recompense evil"; Wait for the LORD, and He will save you.
    Micah 7:7
    Therefore I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation; My God will hear me.
    Habakkuk 2:3
    For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.
  9. Cross References
    Isaiah 66:18
    For I know their works and their thoughts. It shall be that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come and see My glory.
    Ezekiel 38:14 - 23
    Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say to Gog, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "On that day when My people Israel dwell safely, will you not know it?
    Joel 3:2
    I will also gather all nations, And bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; And I will enter into judgment with them there On account of My people, My heritage Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations; They have also divided up My land.
    Micah 4:12
    But they do not know the thoughts of the LORD, Nor do they understand His counsel; For He will gather them like sheaves to the threshing floor.
    Matthew 25:32
    All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.
  10. Cross References
    Zephaniah 1:18
    Neither their silver nor their gold Shall be able to deliver them In the day of the LORD's wrath; But the whole land shall be devoured By the fire of His jealousy, For He will make speedy riddance Of all those who dwell in the land.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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