Parallel Bible results for "zephaniah 3"

Zephaniah 3

New Century Version NCV

1 How terrible for the wicked, stubborn city of Jerusalem, which hurts its own people.

2 It obeys no voice; it can't be taught to do right. It doesn't trust the Lord; it doesn't worship its God.

3 Its officers are like roaring lions. Its rulers are like hungry wolves that attack in the evening, and in the morning nothing is left of those they attacked.

4 Its prophets are proud; they are people who cannot be trusted. Its priests don't respect holy things; they break God's teachings.

5 But the Lord is good, and he is there in that city. He does no wrong. Every morning he governs the people fairly; every day he can be trusted. But evil people are not ashamed of what they do.

6 "I have destroyed nations; their towers were ruined. I made their streets empty so no one goes there anymore. Their cities are ruined; no one lives there at all.

7 I said, 'Surely now Jerusalem will respect me and will accept my teaching.' Then the place where they lived would not be destroyed, and I would not have to punish them. But they were still eager to do evil in everything they did.

8 Just wait," says the Lord. "Some day I will stand up as a witness. I have decided that I will gather nations and assemble kingdoms. I will pour out my anger on them, all my strong anger. My anger will be like fire that will burn up the whole world.

9 "Then I will give the people of all nations pure speech so that all of them will speak the name of the Lord and worship me together.

10 People will come from where the Nile River begins; my scattered people will come with gifts for me.

11 Then Jerusalem will not be ashamed of the wrongs done against me, because I will remove from this city those who like to brag; there will never be any more proud people on my holy mountain in Jerusalem.

12 But I will leave in the city the humble and those who are not proud, and they will trust in the Lord.

13 Those who are left alive in Israel won't do wrong or tell lies; they won't trick people with their words. They will eat and lie down with no one to make them afraid."

14 Sing, Jerusalem. Israel, shout for joy! Jerusalem, be happy and rejoice with all your heart.

15 The Lord has stopped punishing you; he has sent your enemies away. The King of Israel, the Lord, is with you; you will never again be afraid of being harmed.

16 On that day Jerusalem will be told, "Don't be afraid, city of Jerusalem. Don't give up.

17 The Lord your God is with you; the mighty One will save you. He will rejoice over you. You will rest in his love; he will sing and be joyful about you."

18 "I will take away the sadness planned for you, which would have made you very ashamed.

19 At that time I will punish all those who harmed you. I will save my people who cannot walk and gather my people who have been thrown out. I will give them praise and honor in every place where they were shamed.

20 At that time I will gather you; at that time I will bring you back home. I will give you honor and praise from people everywhere when I make things go well again for you, as you will see with your own eyes," says the Lord.

Good News Translation GNT

1 Jerusalem is doomed, that corrupt, rebellious city that oppresses its own people.

2 It has not listened to the Lord or accepted his discipline. It has not put its trust in the Lord or asked for his help.

3 Its officials are like roaring lions; its judges are like hungry wolves, too greedy to leave a bone until morning.

4 The prophets are irresponsible and treacherous; the priests defile what is sacred, and twist the law of God to their own advantage.

5 But the Lord is still in the city; he does what is right and never what is wrong. Every morning without fail, he brings justice to his people. And yet the unrighteous people there keep on doing wrong and are not ashamed.

6 The Lord says, "I have wiped out whole nations; I have destroyed their cities and left their walls and towers in ruins. The cities are deserted; the streets are empty - no one is left.

7 I thought that then my people would have reverence for me and accept my discipline, that they would never forget the lesson I taught them. But soon they were behaving as badly as ever.

8 "Just wait," the Lord says. "Wait for the day when I rise to accuse the nations. I have made up my mind to gather nations and kingdoms in order to let them feel the force of my anger. The whole earth will be destroyed by the fire of my fury.

9 "Then I will change the people of the nations, and they will pray to me alone and not to other gods. They will all obey me.

10 Even from distant Ethiopia my scattered people will bring offerings to me.

11 At that time you, my people, will no longer need to be ashamed that you rebelled against me. I will remove everyone who is proud and arrogant, and you will never again rebel against me on my sacred hill.

12 I will leave there a humble and lowly people, who will come to me for help.

13 The people of Israel who survive will do no wrong to anyone, tell no lies, nor try to deceive. They will be prosperous and secure, afraid of no one."

14 Sing and shout for joy, people of Israel! Rejoice with all your heart, Jerusalem!

15 The Lord has stopped your punishment; he has removed all your enemies. The Lord, the king of Israel, is with you; there is no reason now to be afraid.

16 The time is coming when they will say to Jerusalem, "Do not be afraid, city of Zion! Do not let your hands hang limp!

17 The Lord your God is with you; his power gives you victory. The Lord will take delight in you, and in his love he will give you new life. He will sing and be joyful over you,

18 as joyful as people at a festival." The Lord says, "I have ended the threat of doom and taken away your disgrace.

19 The time is coming! I will punish your oppressors; I will rescue all the lame and bring the exiles home. I will turn their shame to honor, and all the world will praise them.

20 The time is coming! I will bring your scattered people home; I will make you famous throughout the world and make you prosperous once again." The Lord has spoken.