This is the word of the LORD, which came unto Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah the son of Hezekiah: in the time of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah.

I will stretch out mine hand upon Judah, and upon all such as dwell at Jerusalem. Thus will I root out the remnant of Baal from this place, and the names of the Chemarims and priests:

yea, and such as upon their house-tops worship and bow themselves unto the host of heaven: which swear by the LORD, and by their Milcom also:

Be still at the presence of the LORD God, for the day of the LORD is at hand: yea, the LORD hath prepared a slain offering, and called his guests thereto.

And thus shall it happen in the day of the LORD's slain offering: I will visit the princes, the king's children, and all such as wear strange clothing.

For the great day of the LORD is at hand: it is heard by, and cometh on a pace. Horrible is the tidings of the LORD's day; then shall the giant cry out.

For that day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and heaviness, a day of utter destruction and misery, a dark and gloomy day, a cloudy and stormy day,

I will bring the people to such vexation, that they shall go about like blind men; because they have sinned against the LORD. Their blood shall be shed as the dust, and their bodies as the mire.

Before the thing go forth that is concluded; and before the time be passed away as the dust, or the fearful wrath of the LORD come upon you.

And as for the sea coast, it shall be herdsmen's cottages and sheep folds:

yea, it shall be a portion for such as remain of the house of Judah, to feed thereupon. In the houses of Ashkelon shall they rest toward the night: for the LORD their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity.

Therefore as truly as I live, sayeth the LORD of Hosts the God of Israel, Moab shall be as Sodom, and Ammon as Gomorrah: even dry thorn hedges, salt pits and perpetual wilderness. The residue of my folk shall spoil them, the remnant of my people shall have them in possession.

Yea, he shall stretch out his hand over the north, and destroy Assyria. As for Nineveh, he shall make it desolate, dry and waste.

This is the proud and careless city, that said in her heart, "I am, and there is else none." O how is she made so waste, that the beasts lie therein? Whoso goeth by, mocketh her, and pointeth at her with his finger.

which will not hear, nor be reformed. Her trust is not in the LORD, neither will she hold her to her God.

Her rulers within her are as roaring lions: her judges are as wolves in the evening, which leave nothing behind them till the morrow.

Such as I have subdued, and my children also whom I have scattered abroad, shall bring me presents beyond the waters of Ethiopia.

For the LORD hath taken away thy punishment, and turned back thine enemies. The king of Israel, even the LORD himself is with thee: so that thou needest no more to fear any misfortune.

for the LORD thy God is with thee. It is he that hath power to save: he hath a special pleasure in thee, and a marvelous love toward thee: yea he rejoiceth over thee with gladness."

Such as have been in heaviness, will I gather together, and take out of thy congregation: as for the shame and reproof that hath been laid upon thee, it shall be far from thee.