(This is) the word of the LORD that came to Zephaniah - son of Cushi , the son of Gedaliah , the son of Amariah , the son of Hezekiah , in the days of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah :
“ I will completely sweep away ... everything from the face of the earth , ” declares the LORD.
“ I will sweep away man and beast ; I will sweep away the birds of the air , and the fish of the sea , and the idols with their wicked {worshipers}. I will cut off - mankind from the face of the earth , ” declares the LORD.
“ I will stretch out My hand against Judah and against all who dwell in Jerusalem. I will cut off from this - place every remnant of Baal - , the names of the idolatrous and (pagan) priests —
- those who bow on the rooftops {to worship} the host of heaven , - those who bow down and swear by the LORD but also swear by Milcom ,
and those who turn back from (following) the LORD , - neither seeking - the LORD nor inquiring of Him. ”
Be silent in the presence of the Lord GOD , for the Day of the LORD is near. Indeed , the LORD has prepared a sacrifice ; He has consecrated His guests.
“ - On the Day of the LORD’s sacrifice I will punish ... the princes , - the sons of the king , and all who are dressed in foreign apparel.
On that day I will punish all who leap ... over the threshold , who fill the house of their master with violence and deceit.
On that day , ” declares the LORD , “ a cry ... will go up from the Fish Gate , a wail from the Second District , and a loud crashing from the hills.
Wail , O dwellers of the Hollow , for all your merchants ... will be silenced ; all who weigh out silver will be cut off.
And at that time I will search - Jerusalem with lamps and punish - the men settled in complacency , who say to themselves , ‘ The LORD ... will do nothing , either good or bad. ’
Their wealth will be plundered and their houses laid waste. They will build houses but not inhabit (them) , and plant vineyards but never drink - their wine.
The great Day of the LORD is near — near and coming quickly. Listen , the Day of the LORD ! Then the cry of the mighty will be bitter.
That day will be a day of wrath , a day of trouble and distress , a day of destruction and desolation , a day of darkness and gloom , a day of clouds and blackness ,
a day of horn (blast) and battle cry against the fortified cities , and against the high corner towers.
I will bring such distress on mankind that they will walk like the blind , because they have sinned against the LORD. Their blood will be poured out like dust and their flesh like dung.
(Neither) their silver ... nor their gold - will be able to deliver them on the Day of the LORD’s wrath. The whole earth will be consumed by the fire of His jealousy. ” For indeed , He will make a sudden end of all who dwell on the earth.