Zephaniah 3

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Disaster to the rebel ious, the befouled, the tyrannical city!	1 Woe to the city, rebellious and polluted, to the tyrannical city!
2 She has not listened to the cal , she has not bowed to correction, she has not trusted in Yahweh, shehas not drawn near to her God.	2 She hears no voice, accepts no correction; In the LORD she has not trusted, to her God she has not drawn near.
3 The rulers she has are roaring lions, her judges are wolves of the wastelands which leave nothing overfor the morning,	3 Her princes in her midst are roaring lions; Her judges are wolves of the night that have had no bones to gnaw by morning.
4 her prophets are braggarts, impostors, her priests have profaned what is holy and violated the Law.	4 Her prophets are insolent, treacherous men; Her priests profane what is holy, and do violence to the law.
5 Yahweh the Upright is in her, he does no wrong; morning by morning he gives judgement, each dawnunfailingly (but the wrong-doer knows no shame).	5 The LORD within her is just, who does no wrong; Morning after morning he renders judgment unfailingly, at dawn.
6 I have exterminated the nations, their corner-towers lie in ruins; I have emptied their streets, no onewalks through them; their cities have been destroyed and are now deserted and unpeopled.	6 I have destroyed nations, their battlements are laid waste; I have made their streets deserted, with no one passing through; Their cities are devastated, with no man dwelling in them.
7 I thought, 'At least you wil fear me, at least you wil bow to correction,' and none of the punishments Ibrought on them will disappear from their view. But no, it only made them more anxious to do whatever wascorrupt.	7 I said, "Surely now you will fear me, you will accept correction"; She should not fail to see all I have visited upon her. Yet all the more eagerly have they done all their corrupt deeds.
8 So wait for me -- declares Yahweh -- for the day when I rise as accuser, for I am determined to gatherthe nations, to assemble the kingdoms, and on you to vent my fury, the whole heat of my anger (for the wholeearth will be devoured by the fire of my jealousy).	8 Therefore, wait for me, says the LORD, against the day when I arise as accuser; For it is my decision to gather together the nations, to assemble the kingdoms, In order to pour out upon them my wrath, all my blazing anger; For in the fire of my jealousy shall all the earth be consumed.
9 Yes, then I shall purge the lips of the peoples, so that all may invoke the name of Yahweh and servehim shoulder to shoulder.	9 For then I will change and purify the lips of the peoples, That they all may call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one accord;
10 From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia, my suppliants will bring me tribute.	10 From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia and as far as the recesses of the North, they shall bring me offerings.
11 When that Day comes you wil never again be ashamed of al the deeds with which you once rebelledagainst me, for I shal rid you of those who exult in your pride; never again wil you strut on my holy mountain.	11 On that day You need not be ashamed of all your deeds, your rebellious actions against me; For then will I remove from your midst the proud braggarts, And you shall no longer exalt yourself on my holy mountain.
12 But in you I shal leave surviving a humble and lowly people,	12 But I will leave as a remnant in your midst a people humble and lowly, Who shall take refuge in the name of the LORD;
13 and those who are left in Israel wil take refuge in the name of Yahweh. They will do no wrong, wil tellno lies; nor wil a deceitful tongue be found in their mouths. But they will be able to graze and rest with no one toalarm them.	13 the remnant of Israel. They shall do no wrong and speak no lies; Nor shall there be found in their mouths a deceitful tongue; They shall pasture and couch their flocks with none to disturb them.
14 Shout for joy, daughter of Zion, Israel, shout aloud! Rejoice, exult with al your heart, daughter ofJerusalem!	14 Shout for joy, O daughter Zion! sing joyfully, O Israel! Be glad and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem!
15 Yahweh has repealed your sentence; he has turned your enemy away. Yahweh is king among you,Israel, you have nothing more to fear.	15 The LORD has removed the judgment against you, he has turned away your enemies; The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst, you have no further misfortune to fear.
16 When that Day comes, the message for Jerusalem wil be: Zion, have no fear, do not let your handsfal limp.	16 On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem: Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged!
17 Yahweh your God is there with you, the warrior-Saviour. He will rejoice over you with happy song, hewil renew you by his love, he will dance with shouts of joy for you,	17 The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior; He will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love, He will sing joyfully because of you,
18 as on a day of festival. I have taken away your misfortune, no longer need you bear the disgrace of it.	18 as one sings at festivals. I will remove disaster from among you, so that none may recount your disgrace.
19 I am taking action here and now against your oppressors. When that time comes I wil rescue thelame, and gather the strays, and I wil win them praise and renown when I restore their fortunes.	19 Yes, at that time I will deal with all who oppress you; I will save the lame, and assemble the outcasts; I will give them praise and renown in all the earth, when I bring about their restoration.
20 At that time I shal be your guide, at the time when I gather you in, I shall give you praise and renownamong all the peoples of the earth when I restore your fortunes under your own eyes, declares Yahweh.	20 At that time I will bring you home, and at that time I will gather you; For I will give you renown and praise, among all the peoples of the earth, When I bring about your restoration before your very eyes, says the LORD.