Sô-phô-ni 3

The rebellious city

¹Woe to the rebellious and defiled, \q the city of oppression! ²She has not listened to the voice that called her; \q she has not accepted correction. \q She has not trusted in the LORD; \q she has not drawn near to her God. ³Her officials in her midst \q are roaring lions; \q her judges are wolves at evening \q that leave nothing for the morning.^{a 4}Her prophets are arrogant, \q treacherous men; \q her priests profane what is holy \q and do violence to the instruction. ⁵The LORD within her is righteous; \q he does no wrong. \q Morning after morning he brings his justice to light and never fails; \q yet the unjust know no shame. ⁶I have cut off nations; their towers lie in ruins. \q I have left their streets deserted, with no one walking through them. \q Their cities are laid waste; no one is left, no one lives there. ⁷I said, “Surely now you will fear me \q and accept correction.” \q Then her dwelling would not be cut off \q for all the punishment I had decided for her. \q But they were all the more eager to make all their deeds corrupt.^{b 8}So wait for me, declares the LORD, \q for the day when I rise up to seize the plunder. \q For I have decided to gather the nations and assemble the kingdoms, to pour out on them my fury, all my burning anger; \q for in the fire of my jealous anger \q the whole earth will be consumed.^{c 9}Then I will purify the speech of the peoples, \q so that all of them may call on the name of the LORD \q and serve him shoulder to shoulder. ¹⁰From beyond the rivers of Cush \q those who pray to me, my scattered people, \q will bring me offerings.^{d 11}On that day you will not be put to shame for all the deeds \q by which you rebelled against me, \q for then I will take away from among you those who proudly exult, \q and never again will you be haughty on my holy mountain. ¹²I will leave within you \q a people humble and lowly, \q who will take refuge in the name of the LORD. ¹³The remnant of Israel will do no wrong and tell no lies; \q no deceitful tongue will be found in their mouths. \q They will graze and lie down, with no one to make them afraid.

Sing for joy, Daughter Zion

¹⁴Sing for joy, Daughter Zion; \q shout aloud, Israel! \q Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, \q Daughter Jerusalem! ¹⁵The LORD has taken away the judgments against you; \q he has turned back your enemy. \q The King of Israel, the LORD, is with you; \q you will never again fear disaster. ¹⁶On that day \q they will say to Jerusalem, “Do not be afraid; \q Zion, do not let your hands hang limp.” ¹⁷The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty warrior who saves; \q he will delight in you with gladness and be quiet in his love; \q he will rejoice over you with singing.^{e 18}I will gather those who grieve because they are kept from the appointed feasts; \q they are your own, and the disgrace has been a burden on them.^{f 19}At that time I will deal with all who oppress you. \q I will rescue the lame and gather the scattered; \q I will give them praise and honor \q in every land where they were disgraced. ²⁰At that time I will bring you home, \q at the time when I gather you. \q I will make you honored and praised among all the peoples of the earth \q as I restore your fortunes before your very eyes, says the LORD.