1 GLT The word of Yahweh which was to Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the Son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, the king of Judah. BSB BSB: This is the word of the LORD that came to Zephaniah son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah:
2 GLT “I will utterly take away everything from upon the face of the earth— the declaration of Yahweh. BSB BSB: “I will completely sweep away everything from the face of the earth,” declares the LORD.
3 GLT I will take away man and beast. I will take away the birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea and the stumbling blocks along with the wicked, and I will cut off man from upon the face of the earth— the declaration of Yahweh. BSB BSB: “I will sweep away man and beast; I will sweep away the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, and the idols with their wicked worshipers. I will cut off mankind from the face of the earth,” declares the LORD.
4 GLT I will stretch out with my hand against Judah and against all of those living in Jerusalem. I will cut off from this place the remnant of Baal, the name of the idol priests along with the priests, BSB BSB: “I will stretch out My hand against Judah and against all who dwell in Jerusalem. I will cut off from this place every remnant of Baal, the names of the idolatrous and pagan priests—
5 GLT those who are bowing down on the housetops to the army of the heavens, and those who bow down, who swear by Yahweh and also swear upon Milcom, BSB BSB: those who bow on the rooftops to worship the host of heaven, those who bow down and swear by the LORD but also swear by Milcom,
6 GLT and those who turn from after Yahweh, and who do not search for Yahweh and do not seek him.” BSB BSB: and those who turn back from following the LORD, neither seeking the LORD nor inquiring of Him.”
7 GLT Be silent before the Lord Yahweh! For the day of Yahweh is near. For Yahweh has prepared the sacrifice and set apart his invited ones. BSB BSB: Be silent in the presence of the Lord GOD, for the Day of the LORD is near. Indeed, the LORD has prepared a sacrifice; He has consecrated His guests.
8 GLT “It will happen on the day of Yahweh’ s sacrifice, I will visit upon the officials and upon the sons of the king, and upon everyone who dresses in foreign clothes. BSB BSB: “On the Day of the LORD’s sacrifice I will punish the princes, the sons of the king, and all who are dressed in foreign apparel.
9 GLT I will also visit upon all those who leap upon the threshold in that day, those who fill the house of their master with violence and deceit. BSB BSB: On that day I will punish all who leap over the threshold, who fill the house of their master with violence and deceit.
10 GLT It will happen on that day— the declaration of Yahweh— a sound of a cry from the Fish Gate, a wailing from the Second{ District}, and a great ruin from the hills. BSB BSB: On that day,” declares the LORD, “a cry will go up from the Fish Gate, a wail from the Second District, and a loud crashing from the hills.
11 GLT Wail, O inhabitants of the Mortar District, for all the people of Canaan will be destroyed, all of those who weigh silver will be cut off. BSB BSB: Wail, O dwellers of the Hollow, for all your merchants will be silenced; all who weigh out silver will be cut off.
12 GLT And it will happen at that time, I will search Jerusalem with lamps and visit upon the men who are thickening on their sediment, who are saying in their heart,‘Yahweh will not do good and he will not do wrong.’ BSB BSB: And at that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish the men settled in complacency, who say to themselves, ‘The LORD will do nothing, either good or bad.’
13 GLT And it will happen, their wealth will be for plunder, and their houses will be for a ruin. And they will build houses but not reside, and plant vineyards but not drink their wine. BSB BSB: Their wealth will be plundered and their houses laid waste. They will build houses but not inhabit them, and plant vineyards but never drink their wine.
14 GLT The great day of Yahweh is near, near and hurrying quickly! The sound of the day of Yahweh; bitter is the one crying out there, a warrior! BSB BSB: The great Day of the LORD is near—near and coming quickly. Listen, the Day of the LORD! Then the cry of the mighty will be bitter.
15 GLT That day is a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of devastation and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and gloomy skies. BSB BSB: That day will be a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of destruction and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness,
16 GLT A day of a trumpet blast and a battle cry against the fortified cities and against the high towers. BSB BSB: a day of horn blast and battle cry against the fortified cities, and against the high corner towers.
17 GLT For I will bring distress upon mankind, and they will walk like the blind, for they have sinned against Yahweh. Their blood will be poured out like dust, and their inner parts like dung. BSB BSB: I will bring such distress on mankind that they will walk like the blind, because they have sinned against the LORD. Their blood will be poured out like dust and their flesh like dung.
18 GLT Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the wrath of Yahweh. In the fire of his jealousy the whole earth will be consumed. For, a destruction— surely it will be hastened— he will make all the inhabitants of the earth.” BSB BSB: Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to deliver them on the Day of the LORD’s wrath. The whole earth will be consumed by the fire of His jealousy.” For indeed, He will make a sudden end of all who dwell on the earth.