Zephaniah 1
1 The word of the LORD came to Zephaniah son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah son of Amon, king of Judah.
2 “I will sweep everything away from the face of the earth,” says the LORD.
3 “I will sweep away people and animals; I will sweep away the birds of the sky and the fish of the sea, along with the stumbling blocks and the wicked. I will cut off humankind from the face of the earth,” says the LORD.
4 “I will stretch out my hand against Judah and against all who live in Jerusalem. I will wipe out from this place what remains of Baal, the names of the idol priests along with the priests,
5 and those who bow down on the rooftops to the host of heaven, and those who bow down and swear by the LORD, but also swear by Milcom,
6 and those who turn away from following the LORD, those who do not seek the LORD or inquire of him.
7 Be silent before the Lord GOD, for the Day of the LORD is near! The LORD has prepared a sacrifice and consecrated his guests.
8 On the day of the LORD’s sacrifice, I will punish the officials, the king’s sons, and all who dress in foreign clothing.
9 On that day I will punish all who leap over the threshold, those who fill their master’s house with violence and deceit.
10 On that day,” says the LORD, “a cry will rise from the Fish Gate, a wail from the Second Quarter, and a great crash from the hills.
11 Wail, you who live in the Mortar, for all the people of Canaan are destroyed; all who weigh out silver are cut off.
12 At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish the men who have settled on their dregs, who say in their hearts, ‘The LORD does nothing, good or bad.’
13 Their wealth will become plunder, and their houses ruins. They will build houses but not live in them; they will plant vineyards but not drink their wine.
14 The great Day of the LORD is near, near and coming very quickly. The sound of the Day of the LORD is bitter; even the warrior cries out there.
15 That day is a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of ruin and devastation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of cloud and thick darkness,
16 a day of trumpet blast and battle cry against the fortified cities and the high towers.
17 I will bring distress on the people, and they will walk like the blind, because they have sinned against the LORD. Their blood will be poured out like dust, and their flesh like dung.
18 Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the LORD’s wrath. In the fire of his zeal the whole earth will be consumed, for he will bring a terrifying end, a complete end, to all who live on the earth.
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