Zephaniah Chapter 2
King James Version (KJV)
Other Translations
asv (asv) - eBible.org engASV USFM
1
And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against Jehovah; and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as dung.
2
Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of Jehovah’s wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he will make an end, yea, a terrible end, of all them that dwell in the land.
3
Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation that hath no shame;
4
before the decree bring forth,
5
before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of Jehovah come upon you, before the day of Jehovah’s anger come upon you.
6
Seek ye Jehovah, all ye meek of the earth, that have kept his ordinances; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye will be hid in the day of Jehovah’s anger.
7
For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation; they shall drive out Ashdod at noonday, and Ekron shall be rooted up.
8
Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea-coast, the nation of the Cherethites! The word of Jehovah is against you, O Canaan, the land of the Philistines; I will destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant.
9
And the sea-coast shall be pastures, with cottages for shepherds and folds for flocks.
10
And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed
11
their flocks thereupon; in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening; for Jehovah their God will visit them, and bring back their captivity.
12
I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, wherewith they have reproached my people, and magnified themselves against their border.
13
Therefore as I live, saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, a possession of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall make a prey of them, and the remnant of my nation shall inherit them.
14
This shall they have for their pride, because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of Jehovah of hosts.
15
Jehovah 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 nations.
darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext
1
Collect yourselves and gather together, O nation without shame,
2
before the decree bring forth, [before] the day pass away as chaff, before the fierce anger of Jehovah come upon you, before the day of Jehovah's anger come upon you.
3
Seek Jehovah, all ye meek of the land, who have performed his ordinance; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of Jehovah's anger.
4
For Gazah shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon shall be a desolation; they shall drive out Ashdod at noonday, and Ekron shall be rooted up.
5
Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea-coast, the nation of the Cherethites! The word of Jehovah is against you, O Canaan, land of the Philistines: I will destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant;
6
and the sea-coast shall be cave-dwellings for shepherds, and folds for flocks.
7
And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening: for Jehovah theirGod shall visit them, and turn again their captivity.
8
I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, wherewith they have reproached my people, and magnified themselves against their border.
9
Therefore, [as] I live, saith Jehovah of hosts, theGod of Israel, Moab shall certainly be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, a possession of nettles, and salt-pits, and a perpetual desolation; the remnant of my people shall spoil them, and the residue of my nation shall possess them.
10
This shall they have for their pride, because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of Jehovah of hosts.
11
Jehovah will be terrible unto them; for he will famish all thegods of the earth; and all the isles of the nations shall worship him, every one from his place.
12
Ye Ethiopians also, ye shall be the slain of my sword.
13
And he will stretch out his hand against the north, and destroy Assyria; and will make Nineveh a desolation, a place of drought like the wilderness.
14
And flocks shall lie down in the midst of her, all the crowd of beasts; both the pelican and the bittern shall lodge in the chapiters thereof; a voice shall sing in the windows; desolation shall be on the thresholds: for he hath laid bare the cedar work.
15
This is the rejoicing city that dwelt in security, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none else beside me: how is she become a desolation, a couching-place for beasts! Every one that passeth by her shall hiss, shall wave his hand.
lxxbrent (lxxbrent) - Septuagint (Brenton 1851) eBible USFM
1
Be ye gathered and closely joined together, O unchastened nation;
2
before ye become as the flower that passes away, before the anger of the Lord come upon you, before the day of the wrath of the Lord come upon you.
3
Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth; do judgment, and seek justice, and answer accordingly; that ye may be hid in the day of the wrath of the Lord.
4
For Gaza shall be utterly spoiled, and Ascalon shall be destroyed; and Azotus shall be cast forth at noon-day, and Accaron shall be rooted up.
5
Woe to them that dwell on the border of the sea, neighbours of the Cretans! the word of the Lord is against you, O Chanaan, land of the Philistines, and I will destroy you out of [your] dwelling-place.
6
And Crete shall be a pasture of flocks, and a fold of sheep.
7
And the sea coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Juda; they shall pasture upon them in the houses of Ascalon; they shall rest in the evening because of the children of Juda; for the Lord their God has visited them, and he will turn away their captivity.
8
I have heard the revilings of Moab, and the insults of the children of Ammon, wherewith they have reviled my people, and magnified themselves against my coasts.
9
Therefore, [as] I live, saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Moab shall be as Sodoma, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrha; and Damascus [shall be] left as a heap of the threshing-floor, and desolate for ever: and the remnant of my people shall plunder them, and the remnant of my nation shall inherit them.
10
This is their punishment in return for their haughtiness, because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the Lord Almighty.
11
The Lord shall appear against them, and shall utterly destroy all the gods of the nations of the earth; and they shall worship him every one from his place, [even] all the islands of the nations.
12
Ye Ethiopians also are the slain of my sword.
13
And he shall stretch forth his hand against the north and destroy the Assyrian, and make Nineve a dry wilderness, [even] as a desert.
14
And flocks, and all the wild beasts of the land, and chameleons shall feed in the midst thereof: and hedgehogs shall lodge in the ceilings thereof; and wild beasts shall cry in the breaches thereof, and ravens in her porches, whereas her loftiness was [as] a cedar.
15
This is the scornful city that dwells securely, that says in her heart, I am, and there is no longer any [to be] after me: how is she become desolate, a habitation of wild beasts! every one that passes through her shall hiss, and shake his hands.
vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)
1
Convenite, congregamini gens non amabilis:
2
Priusquam pariat iussio quasi pulverem transeuntem diem, antequam veniat super vos ira furoris Domini, antequam veniat super vos dies indignationis Domini.
3
Quærite Dominum omnes mansueti terræ, qui iudicium eius estis operati: quærite iustum, quærite mansuetum: si quomodo abscondamini in die furoris Domini.
4
Quia Gaza destructa erit, et Ascalon in desertum, Azotum in meridie eiicient, et Accaron eradicabitur.
5
Væ qui habitatis funiculum maris, gens perditorum: verbum Domini super vos Chanaan terra Philisthinorum, et disperdam te, ita ut non sit inhabitator.
6
Et erit funiculus maris requies pastorum, et caulæ pecorum:
7
et erit funiculus eius qui remanserit de domo Iuda: ibi pascentur, in domibus Ascalonis ad vesperam requiescent: quia visitabit eos Dominus Deus eorum, et avertet captivitatem eorum.
8
Audivi opprobrium Moab, et blasphemias filiorum Ammon: quæ exprobraverunt populo meo, et magnificati sunt super terminos eorum.
9
Propterea vivo ego, dicit Dominus exercituum Deus Israel, quia Moab ut Sodoma erit, et filii Ammon quasi Gomorrha, siccitas spinarum, et acervi salis, et desertum usque in æternum: reliquiæ populi mei diripient eos, et residui gentis meæ possidebunt illos.
10
Hoc eis eveniet pro superbia sua: quia blasphemaverunt, et magnificati sunt super populum Domini exercituum.
11
Horribilis Dominus super eos, et attenuabit omnes deos terræ: et adorabunt eum viri de loco suo, omnes insulæ Gentium.
12
Sed et vos Æthiopes interfecti gladio meo eritis.
13
Et extendet manum suam super Aquilonem, et perdet Assur: et ponet speciosam in solitudinem, et in invium, et quasi desertum.
14
Et accubabunt in medio eius greges, omnes bestiæ Gentium: et onocrotalus, et ericius in liminibus eius morabuntur: vox cantantis in fenestra, corvus in superliminari, quoniam attenuabo robur eius.
15
Hæc est civitas gloriosa habitans in confidentia: quæ dicebat in corde suo: Ego sum, et extra me non est alia amplius: quomodo facta est in desertum cubile bestiæ? omnis, qui transit per eam, sibilabit, et movebit manum suam.
web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV
1
Gather yourselves together, yes, gather together, you nation that has no shame,
2
before the appointed time when the day passes as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD comes on you, before the day of the LORD’s anger comes on you.
3
Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, who have kept his ordinances. Seek righteousness. Seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden in the day of the LORD’s anger.
4
For Gaza will be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation. They will drive out Ashdod at noonday, and Ekron will be rooted up.
5
Woe to the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites! The LORD’s word is against you, Canaan, the land of the Philistines. I will destroy you until there is no inhabitant.
6
The sea coast will be pastures, with cottages for shepherds and folds for flocks.
7
The coast will be for the remnant of the house of Judah. They will find pasture. In the houses of Ashkelon, they will lie down in the evening, for the LORD, their God, will visit them and restore them.
8
I have heard the reproach of Moab and the insults of the children of Ammon, with which they have reproached my people and magnified themselves against their border.
9
Therefore, as I live, says the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, surely Moab will be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, a possession of nettles and salt pits, and a perpetual desolation. The remnant of my people will plunder them, and the survivors of my nation will inherit them.
10
This they will have for their pride, because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of the LORD of Armies.
11
The LORD will be awesome to them, for he will famish all the gods of the land. Men will worship him, everyone from his place, even all the shores of the nations.
12
You Cushites also, you will be killed by my sword.
13
He will stretch out his hand against the north, destroy Assyria, and will make Nineveh a desolation, as dry as the wilderness.
14
Herds will lie down in the middle of her, all kinds of animals. Both the pelican and the porcupine will lodge in its capitals. Their calls will echo through the windows. Desolation will be in the thresholds, for he has laid bare the cedar beams.
15
This is the joyous city that lived carelessly, that said in her heart, “I am, and there is no one besides me.” How she has become a desolation, a place for animals to lie down in! Everyone who passes by her will hiss and shake their fists.
ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8
1
Bend yourselves, yea, bend ye, O nation not desired,
2
Before the bringing forth of a statute, As chaff hath the day passed on, While yet not come in upon you doth the heat of the anger of Jehovah, While yet not come in upon you doth a day of the anger of Jehovah,
3
Seek Jehovah, all ye humble of the land, Who His judgment have done, Seek ye righteousness, seek humility, It may be ye are hidden in a day of the anger of Jehovah.
4
For Gaza is forsaken, And Ashkelon <FI>is<Fi> for a desolation, Ashdod! at noon they do cast her forth, And Ekron is rooted up.
5
Ho! O inhabitants of the sea-coast, Nation of the Cherethites, A word of Jehovah <FI>is<Fi> against you, Canaan, land of the Philistines, And I have destroyed thee without an inhabitant.
6
And the sea-coast hath been habitations, Cottages <FI>for<Fi> shepherds, and folds <FI>for<Fi> a flock.
7
And the coast hath been for the remnant of the house of Judah, By them they have pleasure, In houses of Ashkelon at even they lie down, For inspect them doth Jehovah their God, And He hath turned back <FI>to<Fi> their captivity.
8
I have heard the reproach of Moab, And the revilings of the sons of Ammon, Wherewith they reproached My people, And magnify <FI>themselves<Fi> against their border.
9
Therefore, I live, An affirmation of Jehovah of Hosts, God of Israel, Surely, Moab is as Sodom, And the sons of Ammon as Gomorrah, An overrunning of nettles and salt-pits, And a desolation--unto the age. A residue of My people do seize them, And a remnant of My nation inherit them.
10
This <FI>is<Fi> to them for their arrogancy, Because they have reproached, And they magnify <FI>themselves<Fi> against the people of Jehovah of Hosts.
11
Fearful <FI>is<Fi> Jehovah against them, For He made bare all gods of the land, And bow themselves to Him, each from his place, Do all islanders of the nations.
12
Also ye, O Cushim, pierced of My sword <FI>are<Fi> they.
13
And He stretcheth His hand against the north, And doth destroy Asshur, And he setteth Nineveh for a desolation, A dry land like a wilderness.
14
And crouched in her midst have droves, Every beast of the nation, Both pelican and hedge-hog in her knobs lodge, A voice doth sing at the window, `Destruction <FI>is<Fi> at the threshold, For the cedar-work is exposed.'
15
This <FI>is<Fi> the exulting city that is dwelling confidently, That is saying in her heart, `I <FI>am<Fi> , and beside me there is none,' How hath she been for a desolation, A crouching-place for beasts, Every one passing by her doth hiss, He doth shake his hand!
Explanations by Age Level
Explain Like I'm 5
A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!
Explain Like I'm 10
Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.
Explain Like I'm 15
Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).