1 This is the word Jehovah spoke to Zephaniah. Zephaniah was the son of Cushi, the grandson of Gedaliah, and the great-grandson of Amariah, son of Hezekiah. Jehovah spoke his word in the days of Judah's King Josiah, son of Amon.

2 »I will destroy take awayremoveconsume everything on the face of the earth!« declared Jehovah. (Zephaniah 2:3)

3 »I will terminate both man and beast. I will put an end to the birds of the sky and the fish of the sea. I will eliminate the sins that make people fall, together with the sinners. I will remove people from the face of the earth,« declared Jehovah.

4 »I will use my power against Judah and against the inhabitants of Jerusalem. I will destroy followers of Baal in this place. I will remove the names of the pagan idolatrous priests along with my priests.

5 »I will remove those who bow down to worship the host of heaven on the housetops and those who bow down and swear to Jehovah and yet swear by Malcolm.

6 »The same for those who have turned back from following Jehovah, and those who have not sought Jehovah or inquired of Him.«

7 Be silent before the Sovereign Lord Jehovah! For the day of Jehovah is near! Jehovah has prepared a sacrifice. He has sanctified His guests.

8 »On that day of Jehovah’s sacrifice,« said Jehovah, »I will punish the officials, the king's sons, and all who practice foreign customs.

9 »I will punish all who worship false gods and who steal and kill in order to fill their master's house with violence.«

10 »On that day,« said Jehovah, »you will hear the sound of crying at the Fish Gate in Jerusalem. You will hear wailing in the newer part of the city and a loud crash from the hills.

11 »Wail, you inhabitants of Maktesh! The people of Canaan have perished. Those wealthy with silver will be destroyed.

12 »At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps. I will punish the men that are satisfied with their wayward lifestyle. They say in their heart, ‘Jehovah will not do good and he will not do evil.’

13 »Their wealth will be looted. Their homes will be demolished. They will build houses. However they will not live in them! They will plant vineyards. But they will not drink their wine!

14 »The great Day of Jehovah is near. It is near and coming quickly. Listen! The mighty man will cry out bitterly on the Day of Jehovah.

15 »That day will be a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish. That day will be a day of trouble, devastation and desolation! It will be a day of darkness and gloom. Indeed that day will be a day of clouds and overcast skies.

16 »That day will be a day of alarm signals and battle cries against the fortified cities and against the high corner towers.

17 »I will bring distress on humans and they will walk like they are blind! They have sinned against Jehovah! Their blood will be poured out like dust and their intestines like manure.

18 »Their silver and their gold will not be able to keep them safe in the Day of Jehovah’s anger ragewrath. He will devour all the nations by the fire of his zeal! He will exterminate all the inhabitants of the earth!«