Sofonias 3

The Wickedness of Jerusalem

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 *Ezek. 22:27Her princes in her midst are roaring lions;

Her judges are*Jer. 5:6; Hab. 1:8evening wolves

That leave not a bone till morning.

4 Her *Hos. 9:7prophets are insolent, treacherous people;

Her priests have polluted the sanctuary,

They have done *Ezek. 22:26; Mal. 2:7, 8violence to the law.

5 The Lordis righteous in her midst,

He will do no unrighteousness.

Every morning He brings His justice to light;

He never fails,

But *Jer. 3:3the 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;

Thereis no one, no inhabitant.

7 *Jer. 8:6I 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 they rose early and *Gen. 6:12corrupted all their deeds.

A Faithful Remnant

8 "Therefore *Prov. 20:22; Mic. 7:7; Hab. 2:3wait for Me," says the Lord,

"Until the day I rise up for plunder;

My determination is to *Is. 66:18; Ezek. 38:14–23; Joel 3:2; Mic. 4:12; Matt. 25:32gather the nations

To My assembly of kingdoms,

To pour on them My indignation,

All My fierce anger;

All the earth *Zeph. 1:18shall be devoured

With the fire of My jealousy.

9 "For then I will restore to the peoples *Is. 19:18; 57:19a pure language,

That they all may call on the name of the Lord,

To serve Him with one accord.

10 *Ps. 68:31; Is. 18:1; Acts 8:27From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia

My worshipers,

The daughter of My dispersed ones,

Shall bring My offering.

11 In that day you shall not be shamed for any of your deeds

In which you transgress against Me;

For then I will take away from your midst

Those who *Is. 2:12; 5:15; Matt. 3:9rejoice in your pride,

And you shall no longer be haughty

In My holy mountain.

12 I will leave in your midst

*Is. 14:32; Zech. 13:8, 9A meek and humble people,

And they shall trust in the name of the Lord.

13 *Is. 10:20–22; (Mic. 4:7)The remnant of Israel *Is. 60:21shall do no unrighteousness

*Zech. 8:3, 16; Rev. 14:5And speak no lies,

Nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth;

For *Ezek. 34:13–15, 28they shall feed their flocks and lie down,

And no one shall make them afraid."

Joy in God’s Faithfulness

14 *Is. 12:6Sing, O daughter of Zion!

Shout, O Israel!

Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,

O daughter of Jerusalem!

15 The Lord has taken away your judgments,

He has cast out your enemy.

*(John 1:49)The King of Israel, the Lord, *Ezek. 48:35; (Rev. 7:15)is in your midst;

You shall see disaster no more.

16 In that day *Is. 35:3, 4it shall be said to Jerusalem:

"Do not fear;

Zion, *Job 4:3; Heb. 12:12let not your hands be weak.

17 The Lord your God *Zeph. 3:5, 15in your midst,

The Mighty One, will save;

*Deut. 30:9; Is. 62:5; 65:19; Jer. 32:41He will rejoice over you with gladness,

He will quiet you with His love,

He will rejoice over you with singing."

18 "I will gather those who *Lam. 2:6sorrow over the appointed assembly,

Who are among you,

Towhom its reproach is a burden.

19 Behold, at that time

I will deal with all who afflict you;

I will save the *(Ezek. 34:16; Mic. 4:6, 7)lame,

And gather those who were driven out;

I will appoint them for praise and fame

In every land where they were put to shame.

20 At that time *Is. 11:12; Ezek. 28:25; Amos 9:14I will bring you back,

Even at the time I gather you;

For I will give you fame and praise

Among all the peoples of the earth,

When I return your captives before your eyes,"

Says the Lord.