Zephaniah 2

1. Gather yourselves together; yea, gather together, O nation not desired—

2. Before the decree is brought forth, and the day passes like the chaff; before the fierce anger of the LORD comes upon you, before the day of the LORD’S anger comes upon you.

3. Seek the LORD, all you meek of the earth who have executed His judgment; seek righteousness; seek meekness. It may be that you shall be hidden in the day of the LORD’S anger,

4. For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation. They shall drive out Ashdod at noonday, and Ekron shall be rooted up.

5. Woe to the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites! The Word of the LORD is against you, Canaan, the land of the Philistines: “I will destroy you, so that no inhabitant survives.”

6. And the sea coast will be pastures, meadows of shepherds, and folds for flocks.

7. And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed on them. In the houses of Ashkelon they shall lie down in the evening, for the LORD their God shall visit them and return them from their exile.

8. “I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the curses of the children of Ammon, with which they have cursed against My people and have magnified themselves against their border.

9. Therefore, as I live,” says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, “surely Moab shall be like Sodom, and the children of Ammon like Gomorrah; a possession of nettles, and salt pits, and a perpetual desolation. The remnant of My people shall plunder them, and the remnant of My people shall possess them.”

10. This shall be their lot in return for their pride because they have cursed and magnified themselves against the people of the LORD of hosts.

11. The LORD will be awesome against them; for He will make all the gods of the earth as nothing; then shall all the isles of the nations worship Him, each man from his own place.

12. “You Ethiopians also 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 her midst, all the beasts of the nation; both the pelican and the bittern shall roost in the capitals of its pillars; birds shall sing in the windows, desolation shall be at the threshold, for He will make bare the cedar work.

15. This is the rejoicing city, dwelling confidently, who says in her heart, “I am, and there is none besides me.” How she has become a desolation, a resting place for animals! Everyone who passes by her shall hiss, and shall shake his fist.