Zephaniah 3:1-8

1Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled, the oppressing city!

2She listens to no voice; she accepts no correction. She does not trust in the Lord; she does not draw near to her God.

3Her officials within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves that leave nothing till the morning.

4Her prophets are fickle, treacherous men; her priests profane what is holy; they do violence to the law.

5The Lord within her is righteous; he does no injustice; every morning he shows forth his justice; each dawn he does not fail; but the unjust knows no shame.

6"I have cut off nations; their battlements are in ruins; I have laid waste their streets so that no one walks in them; their cities have been made desolate, without a man, without an inhabitant.

7I said, 'Surely you will fear me; you will accept correction. Then your dwelling would not be cut off according to all that I have appointed against you.' But all the more they were eager to make all their deeds corrupt.

8"Therefore wait for me," declares the Lord, "for the day when I rise up to seize the prey. For my decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out upon them my indignation, all my burning anger; for in the fire of my jealousy all the earth shall be consumed.