Zephaniah 3

God is in control! Praise be to the Holy One of Israel. Trust in Him and live.

3 Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted,

To the oppressing city!

2 She has not obeyed His voice,

She has not received correction;

She has not trusted in the Lord,

She has not drawn near to her God.

3 Her princes in her midst are roaring lions;

Her judges are evening wolves

That leave not a bone till morning.

4 Her prophets are insolent, treacherous people;

Her priests have polluted the sanctuary,

They have done violence to the law.

5 The Lord is righteous in her midst,

He will do no unrighteousness.

2 Every morning He brings His justice to light;

He never fails,

But the unjust knows no shame.

6 "I have cut off nations,

Their fortresses are devastated;

I have made their streets desolate,

With none passing by.

Their cities are destroyed;

There is no one, no inhabitant.

7 I said, 'Surely you will fear Me,

You will receive instruction'—

So that her dwelling would not be cut off,

Despite everything for which I punished her.

But they rose early and corrupted all their deeds.

8 "Therefore wait for Me," says the Lord,

"Until the day I rise up for plunder;

My determination is to gather the nations

To My assembly of kingdoms,

To pour on them My indignation,

All My fierce anger;

All the earth shall be devoured

With the fire of My jealousy.

9 "For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language,

That they all may call on the name of the Lord,

To serve Him with one accord.

11 In that day you shall not be shamed for any of your deeds

In which you transgress against Me;

For then I will take away from your midst

Those who rejoice in your pride,

And you shall no longer be haughty

In My holy mountain.

12 I will leave in your midst

A meek and humble people,

And they shall trust in the name of the Lord.

13 The remnant of Israel shall do no unrighteousness

And speak no lies,

Nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth;

For they shall feed their flocks and lie down,

And no one shall make them afraid."

14 Sing, O daughter of Zion!

Shout, O Israel!

Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,

O daughter of Jerusalem!

15 The Lord has taken away your judgments,

He has cast out your enemy.

The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst;

You shall see disaster no more.

17 The Lord your God in your midst,

The Mighty One, will save;

He will rejoice over you with gladness,

He will quiet you with His love,

He will rejoice over you with singing."

19 Behold, at that time

I will deal with all who afflict you;

I will save the lame,

And gather those who were driven out;

I will appoint them for praise and fame

In every land where they were put to shame.

The NKJV Study Bible says this: Jerusalem had become a center of oppression, rebellion, and apostasy.
It would soon be marked by destruction. The expression of grief is reflective of God's own heart. The princes, judges, prophets, and priests, whom God had especially designated to work for righteousness, were more wicked than the "regular" citizens of Jerusalem. These leaders were destroying and defrauding the weak, the needy, and the helpless. Because He is absolutely righteous, God had no place in the midst of such an evil people. God's response to the wickedness of Jerusalem was to declare His judgment. He would use other nations to punish the city for its rebellion. The focus of the text moves to a time of national regeneration and restoration. God's people would come from all nations to worship Him. The people are first commanded to abstain from fear, to keep from hanging their arms in a posture of resignation. Instead, they were to take encouragement and strength from the new reality that their God lived among them. God is going to make all things right. Those who are enemies of God's truth will be gathered and removed; those who are disenfranchised, God will restore. As in the beginning of His dealings with Abraham and Sarah (see Gen. 12:1–3), where God promised blessing, honor, and a renowned name, so here God promises fame and praise to each individual in His family. The implication is clear: "Listen and live!"