Zephaniah 3:1-8

1Woe to the city that is rebellious and defiled, the oppressive city!

2She has not obeyed; she has not accepted discipline. She has not trusted in the Lord; she has not drawn near to her God.

3The princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are wolves of the night, which leave nothing for the morning.

4Her prophets are reckless  — treacherous men. Her priests profane the sanctuary; they do violence to instruction.

5The righteous Lord is in her; he does no wrong. He applies his justice morning by morning; he does not fail at dawn, yet the one who does wrong knows no shame.

6I have cut off nations; their corner towers are destroyed. I have laid waste their streets, with no one to pass through. Their cities lie devastated, without a person, without an inhabitant.

7I said: You will certainly fear me and accept correction. Then her dwelling place would not be cut off based on all that I had allocated to her. However, they became more corrupt in all their actions.

8Therefore, wait for me  — this is the Lord’s declaration — until the day I rise up for plunder. For my decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, in order to pour out my indignation on them, all my burning anger; for the whole earth will be consumed by the fire of my jealousy.