Get the free app for more features and content.
Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play

1The word of the Lord that came to Zephaniah son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, during the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah:


Judgment on the Whole Earth in the Day of the Lord

2“I will sweep away everything

from the face of the earth,”

declares the Lord.

3“I will sweep away both man and beast;

I will sweep away the birds in the sky

and the fish in the sea—

and the idols that cause the wicked to stumble.”


“When I destroy all mankind

on the face of the earth,”

declares the Lord,

4“I will stretch out my hand against Judah

and against all who live in Jerusalem.

I will destroy every remnant of Baal worship in this place,

the very names of the idolatrous priests—

5those who bow down on the roofs

to worship the starry host,

those who bow down and swear by the Lord

and who also swear by Molek,

6those who turn back from following the Lord

and neither seek the Lord nor inquire of him.”


7Be silent before the Sovereign Lord,

for the day of the Lord is near.

The Lord has prepared a sacrifice;

he has consecrated those he has invited.


8“On the day of the Lord’s sacrifice

I will punish the officials

and the king’s sons

and all those clad

in foreign clothes.

9On that day I will punish

all who avoid stepping on the threshold,

who fill the temple of their gods

with violence and deceit.


10“On that day,”

declares the Lord,

“a cry will go up from the Fish Gate,

wailing from the New Quarter,

and a loud crash from the hills.

11Wail, you who live in the market district;

all your merchants will be wiped out,

all who trade with silver will be destroyed.

12At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps

and punish those who are complacent,

who are like wine left on its dregs,

who think, ‘The Lord will do nothing,

either good or bad.’

13Their wealth will be plundered,

their houses demolished.

Though they build houses,

they will not live in them;

though they plant vineyards,

they will not drink the wine.”


14The great day of the Lord is near—

near and coming quickly.

The cry on the day of the Lord is bitter;

the Mighty Warrior shouts his battle cry.

15That day will be a day of wrath—

a day of distress and anguish,

a day of trouble and ruin,

a day of darkness and gloom,

a day of clouds and blackness—

16a day of trumpet and battle cry

against the fortified cities

and against the corner towers.


17“I will bring such distress on all people

that they will grope about like those who are blind,

because they have sinned against the Lord.

Their blood will be poured out like dust

and their entrails like dung.

18Neither their silver nor their gold

will be able to save them

on the day of the Lord’s wrath.”


In the fire of his jealousy

the whole earth will be consumed,

for he will make a sudden end

of all who live on the earth.

Holy Bible, New International Version™, NIV™
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.
Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
The “New International Version” is a trademark registered in the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc. The “NIV”, “Biblica”, “International Bible Society” and the Biblica Logo are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission.
Learn more at www.Biblica.com.

Featured Resources

We Studied the “Day of the Lord” in the Bible (Here’s What We Found)

We Studied the “Day of the Lord” in the Bible (...

Does God care about all of the evil humans perpetrate in our world, and if so...

BibleProject

Introduction to Zephaniah

Introduction to Zephaniah

Dr. Kirsteen Kim introduces Zephaniah and its promise of the coming Day of th...

Fuller Studio

What Is an Old Testament Prophet? (Sandra Richter)

What Is an Old Testament Prophet? (Sandra Richter)

https://seedbed.com Seedbed's mission is to gather, connect, and resource ...

Seedbed

Book of Zephaniah Summary: A Complete Animated Overview

Book of Zephaniah Summary: A Complete Animated ...

Watch our overview video on the book of Zephaniah, which breaks down the lite...

BibleProject

How to Read the 15 Prophetic Books in the Bible

How to Read the 15 Prophetic Books in the Bible

The books of the Old Testament prophets are packed with dense poetry and wild...

BibleProject

Old Testament Summary: A Complete Animated Overview

Old Testament Summary: A Complete Animated Over...

Watch our overview video on the Old Testament, also known as the Hebrew Bible...

BibleProject

Explore Zephaniah 1