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Chapter
1
2
3
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1
2
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14
15
Zephaniah chapter 2
English Standard Version
1
Gather together, yes, gather,
O shameless nation,
2
before the decree takes effect
— before the day passes away like chaff —
before there comes upon you
the burning anger of the
Lord
,
before there comes upon you
the day of the anger of the
Lord
.
3
Seek the
Lord
, all you humble of the land,
who do his just commands;
seek righteousness; seek humility;
perhaps you may be hidden
on the day of the anger of the
Lord
.
4
For Gaza shall be deserted,
and Ashkelon shall become a desolation;
Ashdod 's people shall be driven out at noon,
and Ekron shall be uprooted.
5
Woe to you inhabitants of the seacoast,
you nation of the Cherethites!
The word of the
Lord
is against you,
O Canaan, land of the Philistines;
and I will destroy you until no inhabitant is left.
6
And you, O seacoast, shall be pastures,
with meadows for shepherds
and folds for flocks.
7
The seacoast shall become the possession
of the remnant of the house of Judah,
on which they shall graze,
and in the houses of Ashkelon
they shall lie down at evening.
For the
Lord
their God will be mindful of them
and restore their fortunes.
8
"I have heard the taunts of Moab
and the revilings of the Ammonites,
how they have taunted my people
and made boasts against their territory.
9
Therefore, as I live," declares the
Lord
of hosts,
the God of Israel,
"Moab shall become like Sodom,
and the Ammonites like Gomorrah,
a land possessed by nettles and salt pits,
and a waste forever.
The remnant of my people shall plunder them,
and the survivors of my nation shall possess them."
10
This shall be their lot in return for their pride,
because they taunted and boasted
against the people of the
Lord
of hosts.
11
The
Lord
will be awesome against them;
for he will famish all the gods of the earth,
and to him shall bow down,
each in its place,
all the lands of the nations.
12
You also, O Cushites,
shall be slain by my sword.
13
And he will stretch out his hand against the north
and destroy Assyria,
and he will make Nineveh a desolation,
a dry waste like the desert.
14
Herds shall lie down in her midst,
all kinds of beasts;
even the owl and the hedgehog
shall lodge in her capitals;
a voice shall hoot in the window;
devastation will be on the threshold;
for her cedar work will be laid bare.
15
This is the exultant city
that lived securely,
that said in her heart,
"I am, and there is no one else."
What a desolation she has become,
a lair for wild beasts!
Everyone who passes by her
hisses and shakes his fist.
New International Version
1
Gather together, gather yourselves together,
you shameful nation,
2
before the decree takes effect
and that day passes like windblown chaff,
before the
Lord
’s fierce anger
comes upon you,
before the day of the
Lord
’s wrath
comes upon you.
3
Seek the
Lord
, all you humble of the land,
you who do what he commands.
Seek righteousness, seek humility;
perhaps you will be sheltered
on the day of the
Lord
’s anger.
4
Gaza will be abandoned
and Ashkelon left in ruins.
At midday Ashdod will be emptied
and Ekron uprooted.
5
Woe to you who live by the sea,
you Kerethite people;
the word of the
Lord
is against you,
Canaan, land of the Philistines.
He says, "I will destroy you,
and none will be left."
6
The land by the sea will become pastures
having wells for shepherds
and pens for flocks.
7
That land will belong
to the remnant of the people of Judah;
there they will find pasture.
In the evening they will lie down
in the houses of Ashkelon.
The
Lord
their God will care for them;
he will restore their fortunes.
8
"I have heard the insults of Moab
and the taunts of the Ammonites,
who insulted my people
and made threats against their land.
9
Therefore, as surely as I live,"
declares the
Lord
Almighty,
the God of Israel,
"surely Moab will become like Sodom,
the Ammonites like Gomorrah—
a place of weeds and salt pits,
a wasteland forever.
The remnant of my people will plunder them;
the survivors of my nation will inherit their land."
10
This is what they will get in return for their pride,
for insulting and mocking
the people of the
Lord
Almighty.
11
The
Lord
will be awesome to them
when he destroys all the gods of the earth.
Distant nations will bow down to him,
all of them in their own lands.
12
"You Cushites, too,
will be slain by my sword."
13
He will stretch out his hand against the north
and destroy Assyria,
leaving Nineveh utterly desolate
and dry as the desert.
14
Flocks and herds will lie down there,
creatures of every kind.
The desert owl and the screech owl
will roost on her columns.
Their hooting will echo through the windows,
rubble will fill the doorways,
the beams of cedar will be exposed.
15
This is the city of revelry
that lived in safety.
She said to herself,
"I am the one! And there is none besides me."
What a ruin she has become,
a lair for wild beasts!
All who pass by her scoff
and shake their fists.
New American Standard Bible
1
Gather yourselves together, yes, join together,
You nation without shame,
2
Before the decree takes effect—
The day passes like chaff—
Before the burning anger of the
Lord
comes upon you,
Before the day of the
Lord
’S anger comes upon you.
3
Seek the
Lord
,
All you humble of the earth
Who have practiced His ordinances;
Seek righteousness, seek humility.
Perhaps you will remain hidden
On the day of the
Lord
’S anger.
4
For Gaza will be abandoned,
And Ashkelon
will become
a desolation;
The inhabitants of
Ashdod will be driven out at noon,
And Ekron will be uprooted.
5
Woe to the inhabitants of the seacoast,
The nation of the Cherethites!
The word of the
Lord
is against you,
Canaan, land of the Philistines;
And I will eliminate you
So that there will be no inhabitant.
6
So the seacoast will become grazing places,
With
pastures for shepherds and folds for flocks.
7
And the coast will be
For the remnant of the house of Judah,
They will drive
sheep
to pasture on it.
In the houses of Ashkelon they will lie down at evening;
For the
Lord
their God will care for them
And restore their fortunes.
8
'I have heard the taunting of Moab
And the abusive speech of the sons of Ammon,
With which they have taunted My people
And boasted against their territory.
9
Therefore, as I live,' declares the
Lord
of armies,
The God of Israel,
'Moab will assuredly be like Sodom,
And the sons of Ammon like Gomorrah—
Ground overgrown with weeds and
full of
salt mines,
And a permanent desolation.
The remnant of My people will plunder them,
And the remainder of My nation will inherit them.'
10
This they will have in return for their arrogance, because they have taunted and boasted against the people of the
Lord
of armies.
11
The
Lord
will be terrifying to them, for He will starve all the gods of the earth; and all the coastlands of the nations will bow down to Him, everyone from his
own
place.
12
'You also, Ethiopians, will be slain by My sword.'
13
And He will stretch out His hand against the north
And eliminate Assyria,
And He will make Nineveh a desolation,
Parched like the wilderness.
14
Flocks will lie down in her midst,
All animals that range in herds;
Both the pelican and the hedgehog
Will spend their nights in the tops of her pillars;
Birds will sing in the window,
Devastation
will be
on the threshold;
For He has uncovered the cedar work.
15
This is the presumptuous city
That dwells securely,
Who says in her heart,
'I am, and there is no one besides me.'
How she has become a desolation,
A resting place for animals!
Everyone who passes by her will hiss
And
wave his hand
in contempt.
Christian Standard Bible
1
Gather yourselves together;
gather together, undesirable nation,
2
before the decree takes effect
and the day passes like chaff,
before the burning of the
Lord
’s anger overtakes you,
before the day of the
Lord
’s anger overtakes you.
3
Seek the
Lord
, all you humble of the earth,
who carry out what he commands.
Seek righteousness, seek humility;
perhaps you will be concealed
on the day of the
Lord
’s anger.
4
For Gaza will be abandoned,
and Ashkelon will become a ruin.
Ashdod will be driven out at noon,
and Ekron will be uprooted.
5
Woe, inhabitants of the seacoast,
nation of the Cherethites!
The word of the
Lord
is against you,
Canaan, land of the Philistines:
I will destroy you until there is no one left.
6
The seacoast will become pasturelands
with caves for shepherds and pens for sheep.
7
The coastland will belong
to the remnant of the house of Judah;
they will find pasture there.
They will lie down in the evening
among the houses of Ashkelon,
for the
Lord
their God will return to them
and restore their fortunes.
8
I have heard the taunting of Moab
and the insults of the Ammonites,
who have taunted my people
and threatened their territory.
9
Therefore, as I live— this is the declaration of the
Lord
of Armies, the God of Israel— Moab will be like Sodom
and the Ammonites like Gomorrah:
a place overgrown with weeds,
a salt pit, and a perpetual wasteland.
The remnant of my people will plunder them;
the remainder of my nation will dispossess them.
10
This is what they get for their pride,
because they have taunted and acted arrogantly
against the people of the
Lord
of Armies.
11
The
Lord
will be terrifying to them
when he starves all the gods of the earth.
Then all the distant coasts and islands of the nations
will bow in worship to him,
each in its own place.
12
You Cushites will also be slain by my sword.
13
He will also stretch out his hand against the north
and destroy Assyria;
he will make Nineveh a desolate ruin,
dry as the desert.
14
Herds will lie down in the middle of it,
every kind of wild animal.
Both eagle owls and herons
will roost in the capitals of its pillars.
Their calls will sound from the window,
but devastation will be on the threshold,
for he will expose the cedar work.
15
This is the jubilant city
that lives in security,
that thinks to herself:
I exist, and there is no one else.
What a desolation she has become,
a place for wild animals to lie down!
Everyone who passes by her
scoffs and shakes his fist.
New Living Translation
1
Gather together — yes, gather together,
you shameless nation.
2
Gather before judgment begins,
before your time to repent is blown away like chaff.
Act now, before the fierce fury of the
Lord
falls
and the terrible day of the
Lord
’s anger begins.
3
Seek the
Lord
, all who are humble,
and follow his commands.
Seek to do what is right
and to live humbly.
Perhaps even yet the
Lord
will protect you —
protect you from his anger on that day of destruction.
4
Gaza and Ashkelon will be abandoned,
Ashdod and Ekron torn down.
5
And what sorrow awaits you Philistines
who live along the coast and in the land of Canaan,
for this judgment is against you, too!
The
Lord
will destroy you
until not one of you is left.
6
The Philistine coast will become a wilderness pasture,
a place of shepherd camps
and enclosures for sheep and goats.
7
The remnant of the tribe of Judah will pasture there.
They will rest at night in the abandoned houses in Ashkelon.
For the
Lord
their God will visit his people in kindness
and restore their prosperity again.
8
'I have heard the taunts of the Moabites
and the insults of the Ammonites,
mocking my people
and invading their borders.
9
Now, as surely as I live,'
says the
Lord
of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel,
'Moab and Ammon will be destroyed —
destroyed as completely as Sodom and Gomorrah.
Their land will become a place of stinging nettles,
salt pits, and eternal desolation.
The remnant of my people will plunder them
and take their land.'
10
They will receive the wages of their pride,
for they have scoffed at the people of the
Lord
of Heaven’s Armies.
11
The
Lord
will terrify them
as he destroys all the gods in the land.
Then nations around the world will worship the
Lord
,
each in their own land.
12
'You Ethiopians will also be slaughtered
by my sword,' says the
Lord
.
13
And the
Lord
will strike the lands of the north with his fist,
destroying the land of Assyria.
He will make its great capital, Nineveh, a desolate wasteland,
parched like a desert.
14
The proud city will become a pasture for flocks and herds,
and all sorts of wild animals will settle there.
The desert owl and screech owl will roost on its ruined columns,
their calls echoing through the gaping windows.
Rubble will block all the doorways,
and the cedar paneling will be exposed to the weather.
15
This is the boisterous city,
once so secure.
'I am the greatest!' it boasted.
'No other city can compare with me!'
But now, look how it has become an utter ruin,
a haven for wild animals.
Everyone passing by will laugh in derision
and shake a defiant fist.
King James Version
1
Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired;
2
Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the
Lord
come upon you, before the day of the
Lord
'S anger come upon you.
3
Seek ye the
Lord
, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the
Lord
'S anger.
4
For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up.
5
Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites! the word of the
Lord
is against you; O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will even destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant.
6
And the sea coast shall be dwellings and cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks.
7
And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereupon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening: for the
Lord
their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity.
8
I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached my people, and magnified themselves against their border.
9
Therefore as I live, saith the
Lord
of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them.
10
This shall they have for their pride, because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of the
Lord
of hosts.
11
The
Lord
will be terrible unto them: for he will famish all the gods of the earth; and men shall worship him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the heathen.
12
Ye Ethiopians also, ye shall be slain by my sword.
13
And he will stretch out his hand against the north, and destroy Assyria; and will make Nineveh a desolation, and dry like a wilderness.
14
And flocks shall lie down in the midst of her, all the beasts of the nations: both the cormorant and the bittern shall lodge in the upper lintels of it; their voice shall sing in the windows; desolation shall be in the thresholds: for he shall uncover the cedar work.
15
This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand.
New King James Version
1
Gather yourselves together, yes, gather together,
O undesirable nation,
2
Before the decree is issued,
Or
the day passes like chaff,
Before the
Lord
’s fierce anger comes upon you,
Before the day of the
Lord
’s anger comes upon you!
3
Seek the
Lord
, all you meek of the earth,
Who have upheld His justice.
Seek righteousness, seek humility.
It may be that you will be hidden
In the day of the
Lord
’s anger.
4
For Gaza shall be forsaken,
And Ashkelon desolate;
They shall drive out Ashdod at noonday,
And Ekron shall be uprooted.
5
Woe to the inhabitants of the seacoast,
The nation of the Cherethites!
The word of the
Lord
is
against you,
O Canaan, land of the Philistines:
“I will destroy you;
So there shall be no inhabitant.”
6
The seacoast shall be pastures,
With shelters for shepherds and folds for flocks.
7
The coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah;
They shall feed
their
flocks there;
In the houses of Ashkelon they shall lie down at evening.
For the
Lord
their God will intervene for them,
And return their captives.
8
“I have heard the reproach of Moab,
And the insults of the people of Ammon,
With which they have reproached My people,
And made arrogant threats against their borders.
9
Therefore, as I live,”
Says the
Lord
of hosts, the God of Israel,
“Surely Moab shall be like Sodom,
And the people of Ammon like Gomorrah—
Overrun with weeds and saltpits,
And a perpetual desolation.
The residue of My people shall plunder them,
And the remnant of My people shall possess them.”
10
This they shall have for their pride,
Because they have reproached and made arrogant threats
Against the people of the
Lord
of hosts.
11
The
Lord
will be
awesome to them,
For He will reduce to nothing all the gods of the earth;
People
shall worship Him,
Each one from his place,
Indeed all the shores of the nations.
12
“You Ethiopians also,
You shall be slain by My sword.”
13
And He will stretch out His hand against the north,
Destroy Assyria,
And make Nineveh a desolation,
As dry as the wilderness.
14
The herds shall lie down in her midst,
Every beast of the nation.
Both the pelican and the bittern
Shall lodge on the capitals
of
her
pillars;
Their voice shall sing in the windows;
Desolation
shall be
at the threshold;
For He will lay bare the cedar work.
15
This is the rejoicing city
That dwelt securely,
That said in her heart,
“I
am it,
and
there is
none besides me.”
How has she become a desolation,
A place for beasts to lie down!
Everyone who passes by her
Shall hiss and shake his fist.
What does Zephaniah chapter 2 mean?
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