Sophonias, 3
A woe to Jerusalem for her sins. A prophecy of the conversion of the Gentiles, and of the poor of Israel: God shall be with them. The Jews shall be converted at last.
[1] Woe to the provoking and redeemed city, the dove. •
[2] She hath not hearkened to the voice, neither hath she received discipline: she hath not trusted in the Lord, she drew not near to her God. •
[3] Her princes are in the midst of her as roaring lions: her judges are evening wolves, they left nothing for the morning. •
[4] Her prophets are senseless, men without faith: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have acted unjustly against the law. •
[5] The just Lord is in the midst thereof, he will not do iniquity: in the morning, in the morning he will bring his judgment to light, and it shall not be hid: but the wicked man hath not known shame. •
[6] I have destroyed the nations, and their towers are beaten down: I have made their ways desert, so that there is none that passeth by: their cities are desolate, there is not a man remaining, nor any inhabitant. •
[7] I said: Surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive correction: and her dwelling shall not perish, for all things wherein I have visited her: but they rose early, and corrupted all their thoughts. •
[8] Wherefore expect me, saith the Lord, in the day of my resurrection that is to come, for my judgment is to assemble the Gentiles, and to gather the kingdoms: and to pour upon them my indignation, all my fierce anger: for with the fire of my jealousy shall all the earth be devoured. •
[9] Because then I will restore to the people a chosen lip, that all may call upon the name of the Lord, and may serve him with one shoulder. •
[10] From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia, shall my suppliants, the children of my dispersed people, bring me an offering. •
[11] In that day thou shalt 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 thy proud boasters, and thou shalt no more be lifted up because of my holy mountain. •
[12] And I will leave in the midst of thee a poor and needy people: and they shall hope in the name of the Lord. •
[13] The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies, nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed, and shall lie down, and there shall be none to make them afraid. •
[14] Give praise, O daughter of Sion: shout, O Israel: be glad, and rejoice with all thy heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.
[15] The Lord hath taken away thy judgment, he hath turned away thy enemies: the king of Israel, the Lord, is in the midst of thee, thou shalt fear evil no more. •
[16] In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: Fear not: to Sion: Let not thy hands be weakened.
[17] The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty, he will save: he will rejoice over thee with gladness, he will be silent in his love, he will be joyful over thee in praise. •
[18] The triflers that were departed from the law, I will gather together, because they were of thee: that thou mayest no more suffer reproach for them. •
[19] Behold I will cut off all that have afflicted thee at that time: and I will save her that halteth, and will gather her that was cast out: and I will get them praise, and a name, in all the land where they had been put to confusion. •
[20] At that time, when I will bring you: and at the time that I will gather you: for I will give you a name, and praise among all the people of the earth, when I shall have brought back your captivity before your eyes, saith the Lord. •