Zephaniah 3:1-8
Jerusalem's sin and redemption
Woe to her that is filthy and polluted,
to the oppressing city!
She obeyed not the voice; she received
not correction; she trusted not in the LORD;
she drew not near to her God.
Her princes within her are roaring lions; her
judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not
the bones till the morrow.
Her prophets are light and treacherous per-
sons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary,
they have done violence to the law.
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.
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.
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.
Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until
the day that I rise up to the prey: for my deter-
mination is to gather the nations, that I may as-
semble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine in-
dignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth
shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.