Zephaniah Chapter 3
Yo, woe to the city that's looking all grimy and sus, messing up the vibes!
Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city! {her...: or, gluttonous: Heb. craw}
She ignored the signals; no discipline, no faith in the Lord; just kept her distance from her God.
She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the LORD; she drew not near to her God. {correction: or, instruction}
The leaders are wild like roaring lions; the judges are like ruthless wolves; they don’t even wait to chew the bones till tomorrow.
Her princes within her {are} roaring lions; her judges {are} evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow.
Her prophets are straight-up fake; her priests ruined the sanctuary, totally dissed the law.
Her prophets {are} light {and} treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.
The just Lord is right here; he won’t mess things up: every morning, he spills the tea, never lets us down; but the unjust are just lost.
The just LORD {is} in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame. {every...: Heb. morning by morning}
I’ve cut off the nations: their towers are ghost town vibes; made their streets desolate, no one’s rolling through: their cities are wrecked, no peeps around.
I have cut off the nations: their towers are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none passeth by: their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, that there is none inhabitant. {towers: or, corners}
I thought, for sure you’d fear me and catch the hints; so your crib wouldn’t be taken down, even if I had to discipline you: but they got up early and messed every move.
I said, Surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive instruction; so their dwelling should not be cut off, howsoever I punished them: but they rose early, {and} corrupted all their doings.
So hang tight for me, says the Lord, until I rise to claim what’s mine: I’m gathering the nations to assemble the kingdoms, to unleash my anger on them: the whole earth’s gonna feel my fire.
Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination {is} to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, {even} all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.
Then I’ll give the people a fresh vibe, so they can all call on the Lord’s name, serving him in unity, no cap.
For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent. {language: Heb. lip} {consent: Heb. shoulder}
From over the rivers of Ethiopia, my squad, even the daughter of my scattered crew, will bring my offerings.
From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, {even} the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering.
On that day, you won’t feel shame for your moves against me: I’ll remove those who flex on your pride, and you won’t be acting all high and mighty on my holy mountain.
In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain. {because...: Heb. in my holy}
I’ll leave a humble and low-key crew among you, and they’ll trust in the Lord’s name.
I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD.
The remnant of Israel will not do wrong or speak lies; no sus tongues in their mouths: they’ll chill and lay down, and no one will frighten them.
The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make {them} afraid.
Sing out, O daughter of Zion; shout it, O Israel; be hyped and celebrate with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.
Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.
The Lord has wiped away your judgments, sent your enemy packing: the king of Israel, the Lord, is right there with you: you won’t see evil again.
The LORD hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, {even} the LORD, {is} in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more.
On that day, it’ll be said to Jerusalem, “Don’t be afraid”: and to Zion, “Keep your hands raised, don’t slack.”
In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: {and to} Zion, Let not thine hands be slack. {slack: or, faint}
The Lord your God among you is lit; he’ll save, he’ll vibe with you in joy; he’ll chill in his love, and he’ll sing over you.
The LORD thy God in the midst of thee {is} mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. {rest: Heb. be silent}
I’ll gather those who are bummed about the solemn assembly, those who feel the weight.
I will gather {them that are} sorrowful for the solemn assembly, {who} are of thee, {to whom} the reproach of it {was} a burden. {reproach...: Heb. the burden upon it was reproach}
Check it, at that time I’ll heal all that’s been hurting you: I’ll save the ones who are struggling, gather those who got booted; I’ll give them clout and recognition everywhere they’ve been shamed.
Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame. {get...: Heb. set them for a praise} {where...: Heb. of their shame}
At that time, I’ll bring you back, even while I gather you: I’ll give you a name and a vibe among all the people, when I flip your situation right in front of your eyes, says the Lord.
At that time will I bring you {again}, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD.