Sofonias 3
Ve den genstridige, urene, grumme By!
Den hører ej HERRENs Røst, tager ikke mod Tugt. På HERREN stoler den ej, holder sig ej til Gud.
Fyrsterne i dens Midte er brølende Løver, dens dommere som Ulve ved Kvæld, der ej levner til Morgen;
Skrydere er dens Profeter, troløse Mænd, dens Præster vanærer det hellige, øver Vold mod Loven.
HERREN er retfærdig i dens Midte, gør ikke Uret; hver Morgen gør han Ret, ej svigte Lyset, til Uret kender han ikke.
I Stridslarm udrydded jeg Folk, deres Tinder er øde, deres Gader lagde jeg øde, så ingen går der, deres Byer er hærget, mennesketomme, ingen bor der.
Bi derfor på mig, så lyder det fra HERREN, på Dagen, jeg fremstår som Vidne! Thi min Ret er at sanke Folkene, samle Rigerne og udøse over dem min Vrede, al min Harmglød; thi af min Nidkærheds Ild skal al Jorden fortæres.
Thi da vil jeg give Folkene rene Læber, så de alle påkalder HERREN og tjener ham endrægtigt.
Fra Landet hinsides Floden bringer de mig Bukke, fra Patros kommer de med Afgrødeoffer til mig.
Hin bag skal du ikke beskæmmes i al din tid, med hvilken du synded mod mig; thi da vil jeg fjerne fra dig de jublende stolte, du skal ikke hovmode dig mer på mit hellige Bjerg.
Jeg levner i din Midte et Folk, som er ydmygt og ringe, og Israels Rest skal lide på HERRENs Navn.
Uret øver de ikke og taler ej Løgn, der findes ej i deres Mund en svigefuld Tunge; thi de skal græsse og raste uden at skræmmes.
Jubl, du Zions Datter, Israel, råb højt, glæd dig og fryd dig af hele dit Hjerte, Jerusalems Datter!
HERREN har slettet din Dom, bortdrevet dine Fjender. I din Midte er Israels Konge, HERREN, ej mere skuer du ondt.
På hin Dag skal der siges til Jerusalem: Frygt ikke, Zion, lad ikke Hænderne synke!
I dig er HERREN din Gud, en Helt, som frelser. Han glæder sig over dig med Fryd, han tier i sin Kærlighed, han fryder sig over dig med Jubel som på Festens Dag;
den Tid er omme, da du bærer på Skam over ham.
Se, på hin Tid gør jeg Ende på alle, som kuede dig, og jeg frelser, hvad der halter, og sanker det spredte og giver dem Ære og Ry på hele Jorden.
På hin Tid bringer jeg eder hjem, og på hin Tid samler jeg eder; thi jeg giver eder Ry og Ære blandt alle Jordens Folkeslag, når jeg vender eders Skæbne for eders Øjne, siger HERREN.
Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city! {her...: or, gluttonous: Heb. craw}
She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the LORD; she drew not near to her God. {correction: or, instruction}
Her princes within her {are} roaring lions; her judges {are} evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow.
Her prophets {are} light {and} treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.
The just LORD {is} in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame. {every...: Heb. morning by morning}
I have cut off the nations: their towers are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none passeth by: their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, that there is none inhabitant. {towers: or, corners}
I said, Surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive instruction; so their dwelling should not be cut off, howsoever I punished them: but they rose early, {and} corrupted all their doings.
Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination {is} to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, {even} all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.
For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent. {language: Heb. lip} {consent: Heb. shoulder}
From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, {even} the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering.
In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain. {because...: Heb. in my holy}
I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD.
The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make {them} afraid.
Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.
The LORD hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, {even} the LORD, {is} in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more.
In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: {and to} Zion, Let not thine hands be slack. {slack: or, faint}
The LORD thy God in the midst of thee {is} mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. {rest: Heb. be silent}
I will gather {them that are} sorrowful for the solemn assembly, {who} are of thee, {to whom} the reproach of it {was} a burden. {reproach...: Heb. the burden upon it was reproach}
Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame. {get...: Heb. set them for a praise} {where...: Heb. of their shame}
At that time will I bring you {again}, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD.