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.
Zeph.3
[1] Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city!
[2] She obeyed not the voice; she received
not correction; she trusted not in the LORD; she drew not near to her God.
[3] Her princes within her are
roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow.
[4] Her prophets
are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to
the law.
[5] The just LORD is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his
judgment to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame.
[6] I have cut off the nations: their towers
are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none passeth by: their cities are destroyed, so that there is
no man, that there is none inhabitant.
[7] I said, Surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive instruction; so
their dwelling should not be cut off, howsoever I punished them: but they rose early, and corrupted all
their doings.
[8] Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for
my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine
indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.
[9]
For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to
serve him with one consent.
[10] From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter
of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering.
[11] In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings,
wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that
rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain.
[12] I will also
leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD.
[13]
The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in
their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.
[14] Sing, O daughter of
Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.
[15] The LORD hath
taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the LORD, is in the
midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more.
[16] In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou
not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack.
[17] The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he
will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.
[18] I
will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it
was a burden.
[19] Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and
gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been
put to shame.
[20] At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you
a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes,
saith the LORD.