Zephaniah 2
1. Gather yourselves together * , yea, gather together * , O nation not desired * ;
2. Before the decree bring forth * , before the day pass * as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come * upon you, before the day of the LORD'S anger come * upon you.
3. Seek * ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought * his judgment; seek * righteousness, seek * meekness: it may be ye shall be hid * in the day of the LORD'S anger.
4. For Gaza shall be forsaken * , and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out * Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up * .
5. Woe unto the inhabitants * of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites ! the word of the LORD is against you; O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will even destroy * thee, that there shall be no inhabitant * .
6. And the sea coast shall be dwellings and cottages for shepherds * , and folds for flocks.
7. And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed * thereupon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down * in the evening: for the LORD their God shall visit * them, and turn away * their captivity * .
8. I have heard * the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached * my people, and magnified * themselves against their border.
9. Therefore as I live, saith * the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel,Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil * them, and the remnant of my people shall possess * them.
10. This shall they have for their pride, because they have reproached * and magnified * themselves against the people of the LORD of hosts.
11. The LORD will be terrible * unto them: for he will famish * all the gods of the earth; and men shall worship * him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the heathen.
12. Ye Ethiopians also, ye shall be slain by my sword.
13. And he will stretch out * his hand against the north, and destroy * Assyria; and will make * Nineveh a desolation, and dry like a wilderness.
14. And flocks shall lie down * in the midst of her, all the beasts of the nations: both the cormorant and the bittern shall lodge * in the upper lintels of it; their voice shall sing * in the windows;desolation shall be in the thresholds: for he shall uncover * the cedar work.
15. This is the rejoicing city that dwelt * carelessly, that said * in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in ! every one that passeth by * her shall hiss * , and wag * his hand.
