Zephaniah 1-3 - The Day of Yahweh Is Near

Yahweh Will End All Things

Zep 1:2-4 LSB – 

[2] "I will completely end all [things] From the face of the ground," declares Yahweh. 

[3] "I will end man and beast; I will end the birds of the sky And the fish of the sea And the ruins along with the wicked; And I will cut off man from the face of the ground," declares Yahweh. 

[4] "So I will stretch out My hand against Judah And against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, [And] the names of the idolatrous priests along with the priests,

Zep 1:12 LSB – [12] "And it will be at that time That I will search Jerusalem with lamps, And I will punish the men Who are stagnant in spirit, Who say in their hearts, 'Yahweh will not do good or evil!'

The Day of Yahweh Is Near

The Day of the LORD

Zep 1:7 LSB – [7] Be silent before Lord Yahweh! For the day of Yahweh is near, For Yahweh has prepared a sacrifice; He has set apart His guests.

Zep 1:12 LSB – [12] "And it will be at that time That I will search Jerusalem with lamps, And I will punish the men Who are stagnant in spirit, Who say in their hearts, 'Yahweh will not do good or evil!'

Zep 1:14 LSB – [14] Near is the great day of Yahweh, Near and coming very quickly; O the sound, the day of Yahweh! In it the mighty man cries out bitterly.

Seek Yahweh Before His Day of Anger

Zep 2:1-2 LSB – [1] Gather yourselves together, indeed, gather, O nation without shame, [2] Before the decree takes effect-- The day passes like the chaff-- Before the burning anger of Yahweh comes upon you, Before the day of Yahweh's anger comes upon you.

Zep 2:3 LSB – [3] Seek Yahweh, All you humble of the earth Who have worked His justice; Seek righteousness, seek humility. Perhaps you will be hidden In the day of Yahweh's anger.

The Unjust Knows No Shame

Zep 3:1-2 LSB – 

[1] Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled, 

The oppressive city! 

[2] She did not listen to [any] voice; 

She did not receive discipline. 

She did not trust in Yahweh; 

She did not draw near to her God.

Yahweh Will Pour Out His Anger

Zep 3:8 LSB – 

[8] "Therefore wait for Me," declares Yahweh, 

"For the day when I rise up as a witness. 

Indeed, My judgment is to assemble nations, 

To gather kingdoms, 

To pour out on them My indignation, 

All My burning anger; 

For all the earth will be devoured 

By the fire of My zeal.

Zep 3:9 LSB – 

[9] "For then I will change [them] to peoples with purified lips, 

That all of them may call on the name of Yahweh, 

To serve Him shoulder to shoulder.

Yahweh’s Joy in Restoring Israel

Zep 3:14-15 LSB – 

[14] Sing for joy, O daughter of Zion! Make a loud shout, O Israel! Be glad and exult with all [your] heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! 

[15] Yahweh has taken away [His] judgments against you; He has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, Yahweh, is in your midst; You will fear evil no more.