Zephaniah 1

14 The great day of the  Lord is near,  * 1:14 Is 13:6,9; Jl 1:15; 2:1,11,31; 3:14; Am 5:18,20; Ob 15; Zch 14:1; Mal 4:5

near and rapidly approaching.

Listen, the day of the  Lord  —

then the warrior’s cry is bitter.

15 That day is a day of wrath,

a day of trouble and distress,

a day of destruction and desolation,

a day of darkness  * 1:15 Am 1:14; 5:18–20; Ob 12–14 and gloom,

a day of clouds and total darkness,  * 1:15 Ps 97:2; Ezk 34:12; Jl 2:2

16 a day of ram’s horn and battle cry

against the fortified cities,

and against the high corner towers.

17 I will bring distress on mankind,

and they will walk like the blind  * 1:17 Lm 4:14

because they have sinned against the  Lord.

Their blood will be poured out like dust

and their flesh like dung.

18 Their silver and their gold

will be unable to rescue them

on the day of the  Lord’s wrath.  * 1:18 Ezk 7:19

The whole earth will be consumed

by the fire of his jealousy,  * 1:18 Ex 34:14; Dt 29:20; Ps 79:5; Zph 3:8; Zch 1:14; 8:2

for he will make a complete,

yes, a horrifying end

of all the inhabitants of the earth.