Zephaniah 1:7-18

7Be 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.

8On the day of the Lord’s sacrifice I will punish the officials, the king’s sons, and all who are dressed in foreign clothing.

9On that day I will punish all who skip over the threshold, who fill their master’s house with violence and deceit.

10On that day — this is the Lord’s declaration — there will be an outcry from the Fish Gate, a wailing from the Second District, and a loud crashing from the hills.

11Wail, you residents of the Hollow, for all the merchants will be silenced; all those loaded with silver will be cut off.

12And at that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish those who settle down comfortably, who say to themselves: The Lord will do nothing — good or bad.

13Their wealth will become plunder and their houses a ruin. They will build houses but never live in them, plant vineyards but never drink their wine.

14The great day of the Lord is near, near and rapidly approaching. Listen, the day of the Lord  — then the warrior’s cry is bitter.

15That day is 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 total darkness,

16a day of ram’s horn and battle cry against the fortified cities, and against the high corner towers.

17I will bring distress on mankind, and 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.

18Their silver and their gold will be unable to rescue them on the day of the Lord’s wrath. The whole earth will be consumed by the fire of his jealousy, for he will make a complete, yes, a horrifying end of all the inhabitants of the earth.