Zephaniah 3:1-8

1Woe to the city of oppressors, rebellious and defiled!

2She obeys no one, 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 rulers are evening wolves, who leave nothing for the morning.

4Her prophets are unprincipled; they are treacherous people. Her priests profane the sanctuary and do violence to the law.

5The Lord within her is righteous; he does no wrong. Morning by morning he dispenses his justice, and every new day he does not fail, yet the unrighteous know no shame.

6“I have destroyed nations; their strongholds are demolished. I have left their streets deserted, with no one passing through. Their cities are laid waste; they are deserted and empty.

7Of Jerusalem I thought, ‘Surely you will fear me and accept correction!’ Then her place of refuge would not be destroyed, nor all my punishments come upon her. But they were still eager to act corruptly in all they did.

8Therefore wait for me,” declares the Lord, “for the day I will stand up to testify. I have decided to assemble the nations, to gather the kingdoms and to pour out my wrath on them— all my fierce anger. The whole world will be consumed by the fire of my jealous anger.