Sofonías 3:1-8

1 ¡AY de la ciudad ensuciada y contaminada y opresora!
2 No escuchó la voz, ni recibió la disciplina: no se confió en Jehová, no se acercó á su Dios.
3 Sus príncipes en medio de ella son leones bramadores: sus jueces, lobos de tarde que no dejan hueso para la mañana:
4 Sus profetas, livianos, hombres prevaricadores: sus sacerdotes contaminaron el santuario, falsearon la ley.
5 Jehová justo en medio de ella, no hará iniquidad: de mañana sacará á luz su juicio, nunca falta: mas el perverso no tiene vergüenza.
6 Hice talar gentes; sus castillos están asolados; hice desiertas sus calles, hasta no quedar quien pase: sus ciudades están asoladas hasta no quedar hombre, hasta no quedar morador.
7 Dije: Ciertamente me temerás, recibirás corrección; y no será su habitación derruída por todo aquello sobre que los visité. Mas ellos se levantaron de mañana y corrompieron todas sus obras.
8 Por tanto, esperadme, dice Jehová, al día que me levantaré al despojo: porque mi determinación es reunir las gentes, juntar los reinos, para derramar sobre ellos mi enojo, todo el furor de mi ira; porque del fuego de mi celo será consumida toda la tierra.

Sofonías 3:1-8 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ZEPHANIAH 3

In this chapter the character of the city of Jerusalem, and its inhabitants in general, is drawn, as it would be, and as it was, in the times of Christ and his apostles, Zep 3:1,2 and of the principal persons of it in particular, its princes, judges, prophets, and priests, Zep 3:3,4. The hardness, impenitence, and shamelessness of this people, are exposed and aggravated by the just Lord being among them; who, by his example and doctrine, taught them otherwise; yet they were not amended or made ashamed, Zep 3:5 nor received instruction, nor took warning by the judgments of God on other nations, Zep 3:6,7 wherefore the followers of God are called upon to wait his time, who would gather many people together, and destroy the whole land of Judea, Zep 3:8 at which time he would send his Gospel among the Gentiles, who should thereby be brought to the true worship and service of God, Zep 3:9,10 though there should be a remnant among the Jews, according to the election of grace, that should be saved from that general calamity, Zep 3:11-13 and the spiritual Israel are encouraged with promises of better times, when the Jews in general should be converted and gathered into the church of God, have the presence and protection of God with them, and deliverance from all their enemies, and be a praise among all people of the earth, Zep 3:14-20.

The Reina-Valera Antigua (1602) is in the public domain.