Zephaniah 1:7-18

7Be silent in the presence of the Almighty Lord, because the day of the Lord is near. The Lord has prepared a sacrifice. He has invited his special guests.

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

9On that day I will punish all who jump over the doorway and all who fill their master’s house with violence and deception.

10On that day a loud cry will come from Fish Gate, a howling from the Second Part of the city, and a loud crashing sound from the hills,” declares the Lord.

11“Howl, inhabitants of the Mortar, because all the merchants will be destroyed and all who handle money will be killed.

12“At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish those who are satisfied with their hardened lifestyle, who think that the Lord won’t do anything—good or bad.

13Their wealth will be looted. Their homes will be demolished. They will build houses, but they won’t live in them. They will plant vineyards, but they won’t drink their wine.”

14The frightening day of the Lord is near. It is near and coming very quickly. Listen! Warriors will cry out bitterly on the day of the Lord.

15That day will be a day of overflowing fury, a day of trouble and distress, a day of devastation and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and overcast skies,

16a day of rams’ horns and battle cries against the fortified cities and against the high corner towers.

17“I will bring such distress on humans that they will walk like they are blind, because they have sinned against the Lord.” Their blood will be poured out like dust and their intestines like manure.

18Their silver and their gold will not be able to rescue them on the day of the Lord’s overflowing fury. The whole earth will be consumed by his fiery anger, because he will put an end, a frightening end, to those who live on earth.